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Norvir, |Norvir

Norvir

Generic Name: ritonavir (ri TOE na veer)
Brand Names: Norvir

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 purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about 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.

Taking ritonavir will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking ritonavir?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to ritonavir.

• alfuzosin (Uroxatral);

• amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone);

• astemizole (Hismanal);

• bepridil (Vascor);

• cisapride (Propulsid);

• flecainide (Tambocor);

• midazolam (Versed) or triazolam (Halcion);

• pimozide (Orap);

• propafenone (Rythmol);

• quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinidex, Quinaglute);

• terfenadine (Seldane);

• voriconazole (Vfend); or

• ergot medicines such as ergotamine (Ergomar, Cafergot), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45, Migranal Nasal Spray), ergonovine (Ergotrate), or methylergonovine (Methergine).

Before taking ritonavir, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• liver disease;

• diabetes;

• a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia; or

• high cholesterol or triglycerides.

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use ritonavir, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

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.

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.

What happens if I miss a dose?

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.

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking ritonavir?

If you also take didanosine, take it 2 hour before or after you take ritonavir.

Taking ritonavir will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Ritonavir 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).

Keep taking the medication and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

• 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).

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect ritonavir?

• fluticasone (Advair, Flonase, Flovent);

• St. John"s wort;

• antibiotics such as clarithromycin (Biaxin), itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), rifabutin (Mycobutin), or rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);

• antidepressants 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 amlodipine (Caduet, Lotrel, Norvasc), diltiazem (Tiazac, Cartia, Dilacor), 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 amprenavir (Agenerase), 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).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take ritonavir, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

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.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about ritonavir written for health professionals that you may read.

What does my medication look like?

Ritonavir is available with a prescription under the brand name Norvir. Other brand or generic formulations may also be available. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about this medication, especially if it is new to you.

• Norvir 100 mg--white soft gelatin capsules

• Norvir Solution 80 mg per mL--orange-colored oral solution

• Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
• Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ("Multum") is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum"s drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum"s drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.