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Ritonavir
Antiretroviral medication / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ritonavir, sold under the brand name Norvir, is an antiretroviral medication used along with other medications to treat HIV/AIDS.[4][5][8] This combination treatment is known as highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).[8] Ritonavir is a protease inhibitor, though it now mainly serves to boost the potency of other protease inhibitors.[8][9] It may also be used in combination with other medications to treat hepatitis C and COVID-19.[10][11] It is taken by mouth.[8]
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Pronunciation | /rɪˈtɒnəˌvɪər/ rih-TO-nə-veer |
Trade names | Norvir |
Other names | RTV |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a696029 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
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Protein binding | 98–99% |
Metabolism | Liver, CYP3A4 |
Elimination half-life | 3–4 hours[6][7] |
Excretion | Mostly fecal |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.125.710 ![]() |
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Formula | C37H48N6O5S2 |
Molar mass | 720.95 g·mol−1 |
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Common side effects of ritonavir include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, and numbness of the hands and feet.[8] Serious side effects include liver complications, pancreatitis, allergic reactions, and arrythmias.[8] Serious interactions may occur with a number of other medications including amiodarone and simvastatin.[8] At low doses, it is considered to be acceptable for use during pregnancy.[12] Ritonavir is of the protease inhibitor class.[8] However, it is also commonly used to inhibit the enzyme that metabolizes other protease inhibitors.[13] This inhibition allows lower doses of these latter medications to be used.[13]
Ritonavir was patented in 1989 and came into medical use in 1996.[14][15] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[16][17] Ritonavir capsules were approved as a generic medication in the United States in 2020.[18]