RITONAVIR (Generic for NORVIR)

RITONAVIR (ri TOE na veer) helps manage the symptoms of HIV infection. It works by limiting the spread of HIV in the body. This medication is not a cure for HIV or AIDS and it may still be possible to spread HIV to others while taking it. It does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

Take this medication by mouth. Take it with food. Do not cut, crush, or chew this medication. Swallow the tablets whole. For your therapy to work as well as possible, take each dose exactly as prescribed on the prescription label. Do not skip doses. Skipping doses can make the HIV virus resistant to this and other medications. Keep taking this therapy unless your care team tells you to stop.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. While it may be prescribed to children for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-Alfuzosin
-Apalutamide
-Certain medications for irregular heartbeat, such as amiodarone, bepridil, dofetilide, dronedarone, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine
-Cobicistat
-Conivaptan
-Elagolix
-Eletriptan
-Eliglustat
-Enzalutamide
-Eplerenone
-Ergot alkaloids, such as dihydroergotamine, ergonovine, ergotamine, methylergonovine
-Flibanserin
-Idelalisib
-Isavuconazonium
-Ivabradine
-Lomitapide
-Lovastatin
-Lurasidone
-Meperidine
-Naloxegol
-Pergolide
-Pimozide
-Ranolazine
-Red yeast rice
-Rifampin
-Silodosin
-Simvastatin
-St. John's wort
-Terfenadine
-Tinidazole
-Tolvaptan
-Triazolam
-Voriconazole
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Atovaquone
-Bedaquiline
-Bosentan
-Certain medications for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat, such as digoxin, disopyramide, lidocaine, mexiletine, metoprolol, timolol
-Certain medications for cancer, such as dasatinib, ibrutinib, nilotinib, venetoclax, vinblastine, vincristine
-Certain medications for cholesterol, such as atorvastatin, rosuvastatin
-Certain medications for depression, anxiety, or mental health conditions, such as amitriptyline, bupropion, desipramine, fluoxetine, nefazodone, nortriptyline, paroxetine, perphenazine, quetiapine, risperidone, thioridazine, trazodone
-Certain medications for erectile dysfunction, such as avanafil, sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil
-Certain medications for fungal infections, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole
-Certain medications for seizures, such as carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide, divalproex, lamotrigine, phenytoin
-Certain medications for sleep, such as buspirone, clorazepate, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam, zolpidem
-Certain medications that treat or prevent blood clots, such as warfarin, rivaroxaban
-Clarithromycin
-Colchicine
-Cyclosporine
-Dronabinol
-Estrogen and progestin hormones
-Methamphetamine
-Metronidazole
-Opioid medications for pain
-Other antivirals for HIV
-Quinine
-Rifabutin
-Salmeterol
-Simeprevir
-Sirolimus
-Steroid medications, such as betamethasone, budesonide, ciclesonide, dexamethasone, fluticasone, methylprednisolone, mometasone, prednisolone, triamcinolone
-Tacrolimus
-Theophylline

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Discuss any new symptoms with your care team. You will need to have important blood work done while taking this medication.
HIV is spread to others through sexual or blood contact. Talk to your care team about how to stop the spread of HIV.
Estrogen and progestin hormones may not work as well while you are taking this medication. If you are using these hormones for contraception, talk to your care team about using a second type of contraception. A barrier contraceptive, such as a condom or diaphragm, is recommended.
This medication may increase blood sugar. The risk may be higher in patients who already have diabetes. Ask your care team what you can do to lower your risk of diabetes while taking this medication.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
-Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
-Heart rhythm changes—fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, chest pain, trouble breathing
-High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)—increased thirst or amount of urine, unusual weakness or fatigue, blurry vision
-Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
-Pancreatitis—severe stomach pain that spreads to your back or gets worse after eating or when touched, fever, nausea, vomiting
-Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
-Burning or tingling sensation in hands or feet
-Diarrhea
-Dizziness
-Fatigue
-Nausea
-Stomach pain

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store at room temperature between 20 and 25 degrees C (68 and 77 degrees F). Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
-Take the medication to a medication take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
-If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, pour the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substances. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.