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|Ritonavir

Ritonavir

Ritonavir is used for:

Treating HIV in combination with other medicines.

Ritonavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. It works by blocking the growth of HIV.

Do NOT use Ritonavir if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Ritonavir
• you are taking alfuzosin, amiodarone, bepridil, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine, astemizole, terfenadine, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, lovastatin, simvastatin, fluticasone, St. John"s wort, methylergonovine, cisapride, pimozide, midazolam, triazolam, or voriconazole

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Ritonavir :

Some medical conditions may interact with Ritonavir . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, especially St. John"s wort, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, including allergies to sulfas (eg, sulfamethoxazole), aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (eg, ibuprofen), foods, or other substances
• if you have diabetes or high blood sugar, liver problems (eg, hepatitis B or C), hemophilia, high cholesterol or triglyceride levels, or a history of inflammation of the pancreas

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Ritonavir . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Many prescription and nonprescription medicines (eg, used for infections, depression, pain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, impotence, seizures, and other conditions) may interact with Ritonavir , increasing the risk of side effects of these medicines
• St. John"s wort because the effectiveness of Ritonavir may be decreased
• Alfuzosin, amiodarone, astemizole, bepridil, cisapride, dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, flecainide, fluticasone, lovastatin, methylergonovine, midazolam, pimozide, propafenone, quinidine, simvastatin, terfenadine, or triazolam because side effects, including irregular heartbeat, severe drowsiness, trouble breathing, or muscle problems, may be increased
• Voriconazole because the effectiveness may be decreased by Ritonavir

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Ritonavir may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Ritonavir :

Use Ritonavir as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Ritonavir with food.
• Ritonavir comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Ritonavir refilled.
• Continue to use Ritonavir even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Ritonavir , take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. It is important not to miss doses of Ritonavir . Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Ritonavir .

Important safety information:

• Ritonavir may cause dizziness. Do not drive, operate machinery, or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how you react to Ritonavir . Using Ritonavir alone, with certain other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or perform other potentially dangerous tasks.
• Ritonavir offers no protection from the transmission of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Use barrier forms of contraception (eg, condoms) if you are infected with HIV. Do not share needles, other injection equipment, or personal items such as toothbrushes or razor blades.
• Ritonavir is not a cure for HIV infection and patients may continue to acquire illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
• When your medicine supply begins to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. The virus may develop resistance to Ritonavir and become more difficult to treat if you stop taking it, even for a short period of time.
• Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking Ritonavir (eg, increased fat in upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor, as well as the possible role of exercise to reduce this side effect.
• Patients taking sildenafil may experience low blood pressure, vision changes, and prolonged erections while taking Ritonavir . Talk to your doctor before taking sildenafil with Ritonavir .
• Certain birth control pills may not be as effective while taking Ritonavir . Women taking birth control pills should use additional or other birth control measures (eg, condoms, diaphragms).
• Diabetes patients - Ritonavir may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely and ask your doctor before adjusting the dose of your diabetes medicine.
• LAB TESTS, including liver function and blood cholesterol, may be required to monitor your progress or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Use Ritonavir with caution in the ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to its effects.
• Use Ritonavir with extreme caution in CHILDREN younger than 1 month of age. Safety and effectiveness in this age group have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Ritonavir during pregnancy. HIV-infected mothers should not breast-feed their infants because of the risk of transmitting the HIV infection or Ritonavir .

Possible side effects of Ritonavir :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Abnormal skin sensations around the mouth, fingers, and toes; bad taste in your mouth; changes in body fat; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; nausea; stomach pain; taste changes; vomiting; weakness; weight loss.

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); fainting; fever, chills, or sore throat; flushed face; gradual onset of drowsiness; increased blood sugar (excessive urination, thirst, or hunger); inflammation of the pancreas (nausea; vomiting; severe stomach pain); loss of appetite; thirst; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual tiredness or weakness; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions or need medical advice about side effects, contact your doctor or health care provider. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org/findyour.htm), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include change in the amount of urine; numbness or tingling in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Store Ritonavir in the refrigerator, between 36 and 46 degrees F (2 and 8 degrees C). Do not freeze. Ritonavir may be stored at room temperature, below 77 degrees F (25 degrees C), if it is used within 30 days. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Ritonavir out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Ritonavir , please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Ritonavir is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Ritonavir . If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.