Norvir

This page contains drug information on Norvir.
The information provided includes the following:
what is Norvir
the possible side effects of Norvir
what happens if you miss a dose of Norvir
what happens if you overdose with Norvir
the most important information about Norvir
how to use Norvir
other drugs that may affect Norvir
what to avoid while using Norvir
 
Generic Name: ritonavir (rih TAH na veer)
Brand Names: Norvir
 
What is the most important information I should know about norvir?
 •  Some drugs are not recommended to be taken with norvir. Very high levels of these medications, which could occur during therapy with norvir, could be life threatening. Do not take norvir without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
      · cisapride (Propulsid)
      · rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
      · herbal or natural products containing St. Johns wort
      · pimozide (Orap)
      · ergotamine (Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45)
      · amiodarone (Cordarone), bepridil (Vascor), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, others)
      · diazepam (Valium), clorazepate (Librium), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or zolpidem (Ambien)
      · alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
      · bupropion (Wellbutrin) or clozapine (Clozaril) or
      · a cholesterol medicine including atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor).
 •  Take norvir with food, if possible, to increase the absorption of the drug by your body.
 •  norvir may decrease the effectiveness of birth control pills. To protect against pregnancy, use a second method of birth control while taking norvir.

What is norvir?
 •  norvir is an antiviral medication. It is in a category of HIV medicines called protease inhibitors. norvir prevents HIV from maturing. This reduces the amount of infectious or active virus in your body.
 •  norvir is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
 •  norvir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
 •  norvir may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking norvir?
 •  Some drugs are not recommended to be taken with norvir. Very high levels of these medications, which could occur during therapy with norvir, could be life threatening. Do not take norvir without first talking to your doctor if you are taking any of the following drugs:
      · cisapride (Propulsid)
      · rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane)
      · herbal or natural products containing St. Johns wort
      · pimozide (Orap)
      · ergotamine (Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine) or dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45)
      · alfuzosin (Uroxatral)
      · amiodarone (Cordarone), bepridil (Vascor), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), or quinidine (Quinaglute, Quinidex, others)
      · diazepam (Valium), clorazepate (Librium), estazolam (ProSom), flurazepam (Dalmane), midazolam (Versed), triazolam (Halcion), or zolpidem (Ambien)
      · bupropion (Wellbutrin) or clozapine (Clozaril) or
      · a cholesterol medicine including atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), and simvastatin (Zocor).
 •  Tell your doctor if you have any type of liver disease. You may need a lower dose of norvir or special monitoring during your therapy.
 •  norvir is in the FDA pregnancy category B. This means that it is not expected to be harmful to an unborn baby. It is very important to treat HIV/ AIDS during pregnancy to reduce the risk of infecting the unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about treatment options if you are pregnant or could become pregnant during treatment.
 •  It is not known whether norvir passes into breast milk and what effect it may have on a nursing baby. To prevent transmission of the virus to uninfected babies, it is recommended that HIV-positive mothers not breast-feed.

How should I take norvir?
 •  Take norvir exactly as directed by your doctor. If you do not understand these directions, ask your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
 •  Take each dose with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
 •  If possible, take norvir with food to increase the absorption of the drug by the body.
 •  Shake the norvir oral solution before measuring a dose.
 •  To ensure that you get the correct dose, measure the liquid form of norvir with a dose-measuring spoon or cup, not a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.
 •  The liquid can be mixed with chocolate milk or a nutritional drink supplement to improve the taste. The liquid mixture should be taken within one hour of mixing.
 •  It is important to take norvir regularly to get the most benefit.
 •  Treatment of HIV/ AIDS almost always requires the use of two or more drugs. If you need to stop taking one of the medicines you are taking for HIV, you should stop all of them until you can talk to your doctor.
 •  norvir and didanosine (ddI, Videx) should be taken at least 2 and a half hours apart from one another to prevent an interaction.
 •  Your doctor may want you to have blood tests or other medical evaluations during treatment with norvir to monitor progress and side effects.
 •  Refrigeration of the norvir capsules is recommended but is not necessary if the capsules are used within 30 days and stored below 77 degrees Fahrenheit / 25 degrees Celsius (room temperature). 
 •  Store the oral solution at room temperature. Do not refrigerate.

What happens if I miss a dose?
 •  Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take a double dose of this medication unless your doctor directs otherwise.

What happens if I overdose?
 •  Seek emergency medical attention if an overdose is suspected.
 •  Symptoms of a norvir overdose are unknown but might include loss of feeling, tingling, numbness, or pain in a body part.

What should I avoid while taking norvir?
 •  Follow your doctors instructions with respect to high-risk activities such as unprotected sex and the sharing of needles. norvir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS, and you can still transmit the virus to others during therapy with this medication.
 •  Avoid smoking and other tobacco products. Tobacco may decrease the effect of norvir.
 •  Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any other medications, including over-the-counter products Many drugs may interact with norvir. Such interactions could cause dangerous side effects or reduce the effectiveness of norvir.

What are the possible side effects of norvir?
 •  Stop taking norvir and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction (difficulty breathing closing of the throat swelling of the lips, tongue, or face or hives).
 •  Other, less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take norvir and talk to your doctor if you experience
      · nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased appetite, or changes in the taste of foods
      · sore muscles or numbness, tingling or pain in a body part
      · throat irritation
      · dizziness
      · rash or
      · sweating.
 •  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 norvir?
 •  Some drugs are not recommended to be taken with norvir. Very high levels of these medications, which could occur during therapy with norvir, could be life threatening. See the "What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking norvir" section for a detailed list.
 •  Before taking norvir, tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines:
      · phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton)
      · rifabutin (Mycobutin)
      · sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) or tadalafil (Cialis)
      · fluticasone (Flonase)
      · trazodone (Desyrel)
      · a tricyclic antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil), desipramine (Norpramin), nortriptyline (Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and others
      · warfarin (Coumadin)
      · cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral), tacrolimus (Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune)
      · meperidine (Demerol), piroxicam (Feldene), or propoxyphene (Darvocet, Darvon, Wygesic)
      · methadone (Dolophine, Methadose)
      · a stomach or ulcer medication such as cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), nizatidine (Axid), ranitidine (Zantac), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), omeprazole (Prilosec), or rabeprazole (Aciphex)
      · dexamethasone (Decadron, Hexadrol, others)
      · dapsone
      · disulfiram (Antabuse)
      · theophylline (Theo-Dur, Theo-Bid, Theolair, Theochron, others)
      · metronidazole (Flagyl), erythromycin (Ery-Tab, E-Mycin, Eryc, E.E.S., PCE, others), clarithromycin (Biaxin) or clindamycin (Cleocin)
      · a calcium channel blocker such as diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR, Tiazac, Diltia XT), felodipine (Plendil), nicardipine (Cardene), nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat), or nimodipine (Nimotop), verapamil (Calan, Covers-HS ,Isoptin, Verelan), amlodipine (Norvasc, Lotrel) nisoldipine (Sular), isradipine (DynaCirc)
      · itraconazole (Sporanox) or ketoconazole (Nizoral) or
      · an HIV/ AIDS medicine such as delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), or nevirapine (Viramune).
 •  You may not be able to take norvir, or you may require a dosage adjustment or special monitoring during treatment if you are taking any of the medicines listed above.
 •  norvir may decrease the effects of birth control pills. Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy.
 •  Drugs other than those listed here may also interact with norvir. Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicines, including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products.