Dear Dr,

My friend has take Kaletra and other HIV anti-drug. His CD4 is 246. He gets diarrhea two times per day almost everyday even he tried to eat safe food. Do you think diarrhea is side affect of Kaletra? If so, how does he cope it? Before he used to drink fruit juice with high vitamin C so his diarrhea was manageble. However, he found that vitamin C is interaction with Kaletra so he stops to drink fruit juice with high vitamin c. Do you think fruit juice with high vitamin C can interation with Kaletra that lead to low CD4? I really need your answer to advice him. Great thank

Kaletra can cause diarrhea in some patients though there can be other causes that merit consideration. If the diarrhea is due to the Kaletra a number of intervnetions can be tried. Taking calcium supplements, loperamide, bran or other fiber supplements, active culture yogurt-each may help certain patients. If the loose stools remain troublesome then looking at the other component in the regimen as a contributing factor (such as Truvada) may be worthwhile. In some cases a switch to an alternative boosted protease inhibitors (such as fosamprenavir, atazanavir, or darunavir), efavirenz, or raltegravir may improve the loose stools in some patients. KH