Lopinavir and ritonavir and St. John's wort interaction

Lopinavir and ritonavir and St. John's wort: the Lopinavir and ritonavir prescribing label flags this combination with the strongest language, such as a contraindication, a boxed warning, or an instruction to avoid it.

Major

Do not combine without a prescriber's guidance. The label language below is the strongest FDA uses.

What the FDA labels say

From the Lopinavir and ritonavir (Kaletra) label · effective 2026-07-23

Major

John's Wort (hypericum perforatum) Hypersensitivity to KALETRA (e.g., toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, erythema multiforme, urticaria, angioedema) or any of its ingredients, including ritonavir.

Contraindicationsnames St. John's wortView label on DailyMed
Major

John's Wort (hypericum perforatum) ↓ lopinavir Contraindicated due to potential for loss of virologic response and possible resistance to KALETRA or to the class of protease inhibitors [see Contraindications ( 4 )] .

Drug interactionsnames St. John's wortView label on DailyMed

Curated guidance for St. John's wort

Major

St. John's wort can lower blood levels of some HIV medicines enough to cause treatment failure.

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Not medical advice. Interaction Checker quotes FDA label text and NIH fact sheets. Whether an interaction matters for you depends on doses, timing, kidney and liver function, and other conditions. Confirm with a pharmacist or prescriber.