Warnings & Recalls for Norvir
Before taking Norvir,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to ritonavir, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in Norvir tablets, capsules, or solution. Ask your pharmacist for a list of the ingredients.
- tell your doctor if you are taking any of the medications in the following: alfuzosin, cisapride, lovastatin, pimozide, sildenafil, simvastatin, or voriconazole. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take Norvir if you are taking one or more of these medications.
- also tell your doctor and pharmacist what other medications, prescription and nonprescription, as well as what vitamins, and nutritional supplements you are taking or plan to take. Be sure to mention any of the following: anticoagulants such as warfarin; antidepressants such as bupropion, desipramine, nefazodone, and trazodone; atovaquone; beta-blockers such as metoprolol and timolol; bosentan; buspirone; calcium channel blockers such as diltiazem, nifedipine, verapamil; cholesterol-lowering medications such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin; clarithromycin; clorazepate; colchicine; dexamethasone; diazepam; digoxin; dronabinol; estazolam; itraconazole; fluticasone; ketoconazole; lidocaine; other medications for HIV such as atazanvir, darunavir, delavirdine, fosamprenavir, indinavir, maraviroc, saquinavir and tipranavir; medications for erectile dysfunction such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra; medications that suppress the immune system such as cyclosporine, sirolimus and tacrolimus; certain medications for seizures such as carbamazepine, clonazepam, divalproex, ethosuximide, lamotrigine and phenytoin; meperidine; methadone; methamphetamine; mexiletine; nefazodone; perphenazine; prednisone; quinine; rifabutin; rifampin; risperidone; salmeterol; theophylline; thioridazine; vinblastine; vincristine and Ambien. Many other medications may also interact with Norvir, so be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking, even those that do not appear on this list.
- Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medications: ergot medications such as dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, ergonovine and methylergonovine; medications for irregular heartbeat such as amiodarone, bepridil, flecainide, propafenone and quinidine; and sedatives or sleeping pills such as midazolam and triazolam. Your doctor will probably tell you not to take Norvir if you are taking any of these medications.
- if you are taking Norvir oral suspension, also tell your doctor if you are taking disulfiram (Antabuse) or metronidazole (Flagyl).
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what herbal products you are taking, especially St. John's wort.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a prolonged QT interval, diabetes, hemophilia, high cholesterol or triglycerides in the blood, or heart or liver disease.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking Norvir, call your doctor immediately. You should not breast-feed if you are infected with HIV or if you are taking Norvir.
- you should know that Norvir may decrease the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills, patches, rings, or injections). Talk to your doctor about using another form of birth control.
- you should be aware that your body fat may increase or move to different areas of your body, such as your upper back, neck (''buffalo hump''), breasts, and around your stomach. You may notice a loss of body fat from your face, legs, and arms.
- you should know that you may experience hyperglycemia while you are taking Norvir, even if you do not already have diabetes. Tell your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms while you are taking Norvir: extreme thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, blurred vision, or weakness. It is very important to call your doctor as soon as you have any of these symptoms, because high blood sugar that is not treated can cause a serious condition called ketoacidosis.
On March 1
st, 2012, the FDA gave healthcare providers updates about prescription information concerning interactions between protease inhibitors and certain statin drugs. Taken together, this combination may raise blood levels of statins and increase risks of myopathy, which can be fatal if left untreated. On February 2012, the FDA approved safety labeling changes to Norvir to reflect side effects and the ramifications of undergoing such an intensive regimen of drugs taken along with Norvir.
There is also a "black box" warning associated with the drug Norvir. The co-administration of Norvir with sedative hypnotics, ergot alkaloid preparations and antiarrhythmics can result in potentially life-threatening adverse reactions because of Norvir's effects on the hepatic metabolism of certain drugs.
Norvir Treatment and Use
Norvir | Ritonavir is a drug that’s manufactured by Abbott Laboratories in the US and is an antiretroviral drug in the protease inhibitor classification that’s used to treat HIV and AIDS. Norvir is most frequently prescribed with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in succession with a number of other drugs that treat HIV and AIDS, not exclusively because of its antiviral actions, but because Norvir inhibits the same host enzyme that metabolizes other protease inhibitors. This inhibition in turn leads to a higher plasma concentration of the HAART drugs, which allows a clinician to lower the dosage and frequency to which these drugs are routinely administered.
Norvir comes as tablets, capsules or a solution to be taken orally and is usually taken twice a day. It is worth noting that over $200,000,000 has gone into research, innovation, federal grants and production of Norvir by both Abbott Laboratories and the NIH (National Institutes of Health).
On March 1st, 1996, the FDA approved Norvir to treat HIV and AIDS, making it the seventh approved antiretroviral drug in the US. This drug has had its controversies due to Abbott Laboratories raising the daily dosage price from $1.71 to $8.57 per day in 2003, which led to claims of price gouging by patients’ advocates and some members of Congress.
As with any antiretroviral drug, a therapy regimen on Norvir can be depleting upon an AIDS or HIV patient. If you or a loved one have endured adverse effects from Norvir, our advocates are waiting to hear from you. Contact us right away.
