Drug information

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Brand Name
Norvir
Other Names
RTV
Drug Class
Protease Inhibitors (PIs)
Drug Image(s): (Click to enlarge)

(The drug image[s] shown above is of the brand product only. There may be other available products not shown.)

What are the most important things to know about ritonavir? What are the most important things to know about ritonavir?

What are the most important things to know about ritonavir?

Ritonavir can cause serious, life-threatening side effects. These include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), heart rhythm problems, severe skin rash and allergic reactions, liver problems, and drug interactions.

Contact your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms that could be signs of pancreatitis:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Pain in the stomach area (abdominal pain)

Contact your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms that could be signs of heart rhythm problems:

  • Dizziness
  • Lightheadedness
  • Changes in your heartbeat
  • Fainting

Contact your health care provider right away if you develop a rash while taking ritonavir. Stop taking ritonavir and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms:

  • General ill feeling
  • Extreme tiredness
  • Muscle or joint aches
  • Fever
  • Blistering or peeling skin
  • Blisters or sores in your mouth
  • Redness or swelling of the eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Swelling of your face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble breathing or swallowing

Some people taking ritonavir have had liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) or hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) or who have elevated results on liver function tests may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening liver problems while taking ritonavir.

Contact your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms that could be signs of liver problems:

  • Yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes (jaundice)
  • Dark-colored urine
  • Light-colored bowel movements
  • Loss of appetite for several days or longer
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach/abdominal area
  • Itching

Taking ritonavir with certain other medicines may cause serious, life-threatening side effects. Tell your health care provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

While taking ritonavir, it is important to keep all of your appointments with your health care provider.

What is ritonavir?What is ritonavir?

What is ritonavir?

Ritonavir (brand name: Norvir) is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and children. Ritonavir is always used in combination with other HIV medicines.

Although ritonavir is FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV infection, it is no longer used for its activity against HIV. Instead, ritonavir (given at low doses) is currently used as a pharmacokinetic enhancer to boost the activity of other HIV medicines.

For more information on the use of ritonavir in people with HIV, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.

When ritonavir is used as a pharmacokinetic enhancer, it does not work as an HIV medicine and does not treat HIV. You must take all the HIV medicines prescribed by your health care provider. Do not cut down on, skip, or stop taking ritonavir or any HIV medicines unless your health care provider tells you to.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking ritonavir?What should I tell my health care provider before taking ritonavir?

What should I tell my health care provider before taking ritonavir?

Before taking ritonavir, tell your health care provider:

  • If you are allergic to ritonavir or any other medicines.
  • If you have liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) or hepatitis C virus infection (HCV).
  • If you have heart problems.
  • If you have diabetes or high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
  • If you have bleeding problems or hemophilia.
  • If you have any other medical conditions.
  • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of taking ritonavir during pregnancy. For more information on the use of ritonavir during pregnancy, please refer to the Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States.
  • If you are breast/chestfeeding or plan to breast/chestfeed. For people with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. People with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk.
  • If you are using hormone-based birth control (such as pills, implants, or vaginal rings). Ritonavir may make these forms of birth control less effective. Your health care provider can help you decide how to adjust your birth control while you are taking ritonavir. For more information about using birth control and HIV medicines at the same time, view the HIVinfo HIV and Birth Control infographic.
  • About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products (particularly St. John's wort) you are taking or plan to take. Ritonavir may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how ritonavir works. Taking ritonavir together with certain medicines or products may cause serious, life-threatening side effects.

How should I take ritonavir?How should I take ritonavir?

How should I take ritonavir?

Ritonavir comes in the following forms and strengths:

  • 100-mg tablets
  • 100-mg/packet oral powder

Take ritonavir according to your health care provider’s instructions. Do not miss a dose of ritonavir, and do not change your dose or stop taking ritonavir without first talking with your health care provider.

Take ritonavir with meals.

Swallow ritonavir tablets whole. Do not chew, break, or crush the tablets before swallowing.

Ritonavir oral powder comes in individual packets and is an option for children. The oral powder is mixed into a spoonful or more of soft food (such as applesauce or pudding) or liquid (such as water, chocolate milk, or infant formula). The bitter aftertaste of ritonavir oral powder may be lessened if it’s taken with food. All of the mixture should be taken. The mixture must be given within 2 hours of mixing with the food or liquid. If it’s not given within 2 hours of mixing, throw away the mixture and prepare a new dose. See the “Instructions for Use” that come with ritonavir oral powder for complete information about how to prepare and give or take a dose of ritonavir.

Always take ritonavir in combination with other HIV medicines.

If you have taken too much ritonavir, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222 or online) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

For more information on how to take ritonavir, see the FDA drug label.

What should I do if I forget a dose?What should I do if I forget a dose?

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If you miss a dose of ritonavir, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

What side effects can ritonavir cause?What side effects can ritonavir cause?

What side effects can ritonavir cause?

Ritonavir may cause side effects. Some side effects of ritonavir can be serious as noted above. Many side effects from HIV medicines, such as nausea or occasional dizziness, are manageable. See the HIVinfo fact sheet on HIV Medicines and Side Effects for more information.

Other possible side effects of ritonavir include:

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of ritonavir. To learn more about possible side effects of ritonavir, read the drug label or package insert or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

You can report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should ritonavir be stored?How should ritonavir be stored?

How should ritonavir be stored?

  • Store ritonavir tablets and oral powder at or below 86°F (30°C).
  • Keep ritonavir in the container that it came in and keep the container tightly closed. If ritonavir tablets are not stored in their original container, do not expose the tablets to high humidity for longer than 2 weeks.
  • Do not use ritonavir if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
  • Throw away ritonavir that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
  • Keep ritonavir and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about ritonavir?Where can I find more information about ritonavir?

Where can I find more information about ritonavir?

Manufacturer Information

AbbVie Inc.
Main number: 800-633-9110
Patient assistance: 800-222-6885

Last Reviewed: May 2, 2024