What is ritonavir?
Ritonavir is an antiviral medication in a group of HIV medicines called protease (PRO-tee-ayz)
inhibitors. Ritonavir prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.
Ritonavir is used to treat HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Ritonavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Ritonavir may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ritonavir?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to ritonavir.
Do not take ritonavir with any of the following medications:
-
alfuzosin (Uroxatral);
-
amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);
-
cisapride (Propulsid);
-
flecainide (Tambocor);
-
midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);
-
pimozide (Orap);
-
propafenone (Rythmol);
-
quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);
-
voriconazole (Vfend); or
-
ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot),
dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or
methylergonovine (Methergine).
These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while
you are taking ritonavir.
If you have certain conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take
this medication. Before taking ritonavir, tell your doctor if you have:
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be
harmful to an unborn baby, but HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated
during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.
Ritonavir can make birth control pills or patches less effective. Ask your doctor about
using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent
pregnancy while taking ritonavir.
You should not breast-feed while you are using ritonavir. Women with HIV or AIDS
should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the
baby in your breast milk.
How should I take ritonavir?
Take ritonavir exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger
amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your
prescription label.
Ritonavir works best if you take it with food.
Measure the liquid form (oral solution) of ritonavir with a special dose-measuring spoon or cup,
not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
Liquid ritonavir can be mixed with chocolate milk or a nutrition drink such as Ensure. Drink the
mixture within 1 hour after mixing.
It is important to use ritonavir regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled
before you run out of medicine completely.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition,
use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient
instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule
without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a
doctor.
To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a
regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your
doctor.
Store ritonavir capsules in the refrigerator or at room temperature, away from heat or
moisture. If you store the capsules at room temperature you must use them within 30 days.
Store ritonavir liquid at room temperature with the cap tightly closed. Do not refrigerate.
What happens if I miss a dose of ritonavir?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the
missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take
extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about ritonavir?
Your pharmacist has information about ritonavir written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of ritonavir?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking ritonavir and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side
effects:
-
fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling,
and red skin rash;
-
increased urination or extreme thirst;
-
easy bruising or bleeding;
-
signs of a new infection, such as fever or chills, cough, or
flu symptoms;
-
severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back,
nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate; or
-
low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools,
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Less serious side effects may include:
-
mild nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
-
numbness or tingling, especially around your mouth;
-
headache, mood changes; or
-
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in
your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and waist).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your
doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at
1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about ritonavir?
Do not take ritonavir with alfuzosin (Uroxatral), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone),
bepridil (Vascor), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex),
voriconazole (Vfend), cisapride (Propulsid), pimozide (Orap), midazolam (Versed), triazolam
(Halcion), or an ergot medicine such as Ergomar, Cafergot, Wigraine, D.H.E. 45, Migranal,
Methergine.
These drugs can cause life-threatening side effects if you use them while you are taking
ritonavir.
There are many other medicines that can interact with ritonavir.
Tell
your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes
vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new
medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this
list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition,
use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication
schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the
care of a doctor.
Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this
medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe
methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe,
even for a healthy person.
What should I avoid while taking ritonavir?
If you also take didanosine, take it 2 hour before or after you take ritonavir.
Ritonavir oral liquid contains alcohol. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages while using this
medicine, and do not take disulfiram (Antabuse) or you could have an alcohol reaction.
Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this
medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe
methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe,
even for a healthy person.
What other drugs will affect ritonavir?
Before taking ritonavir, tell your doctor if you are using:
-
fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent);
-
St. John's wort;
-
an antibiotic such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), rifabutin
(Mycobutin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
-
antifungal medication such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or
ketoconazole (Nizoral);
-
an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon),
bupropion (Wellbutrin, Zyban), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline
(Zoloft), trazodone (Desyrel), and others;
-
a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Cartia,
Nifedical, Cardizem), felodipine (Plendil), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), or verapamil (Calan,
Covera, Isoptin, Verelan);
-
cholesterol-lowering medicine such as atorvastatin
(Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altocor), or simvastatin (Zocor);
-
drugs that weaken the immune system, such as cyclosporine
(Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf);
-
other HIV /AIDS medicine such as atazanavir (Reyataz),
indinavir (Crixivan), or saquinavir (Invirase);
-
insulin or diabetes medication you take by mouth;
-
medicines to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil
(Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), or vardenafil (Levitra); or
-
seizure medications such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol,
Tegretol), clonazepam (Klonopin), divalproex (Depakote), ethosuximide (Zarontin), lamotrigine
(Lamictal), or phenytoin (Dilantin).
This list is not complete and there are many other
medicines that can interact with ritonavir.
Tell your doctor about all the prescription and
over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a
list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider
who treats you.
What happens if I have an overdose of ritonavir?
