Ritonavir
Written By Dr. Mayank
Reviewed By Dr. Rajeev SharmaLast updated 25 Nov 2025 | 09:34 AM (UTC)
Ritonavir Uses
Ritonavir is used in the treatment of HIV infection.
How Ritonavir works
Ritonavir is an anti-HIV medication. It works by interfering with an enzyme (protease), which is required by HIV-infected cells to make new viruses. This stops the production of new viruses.
Common side effects of Ritonavir
Taste change, Nausea, Diarrhea, Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation), Vomiting, Fatigue, Increased triglyceride level in blood, Joint pain
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Expert advice for Ritonavir
- Ritonavir should be taken with food.
- Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
- Do not take antacids an hour before or two hours after taking Ritonavir.
- It may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything that requires concentration until you know how it affects you.
- Stop taking medications (prescribed for erectile dysfunction) like sildenafil or tadalafil while on treatment with this medicine.
- Your doctor may check your liver function regularly. Inform your doctor if you develop abdominal pain, loss of appetite darkened urine or yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Ritonavir should be taken with food.
- Do not skip any doses and finish the full course of treatment even if you feel better.
- Do not take antacids an hour before or two hours after taking Ritonavir.
- It may cause dizziness or sleepiness. Do not drive or do anything that requires concentration until you know how it affects you.
- Stop taking medications (prescribed for erectile dysfunction) like sildenafil or tadalafil while on treatment with this medicine.
- Your doctor may check your liver function regularly. Inform your doctor if you develop abdominal pain, loss of appetite darkened urine or yellowing of the eyes or skin (jaundice).
- Inform your doctor if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions for Ritonavir
It is used along with other medication for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It does not completely cure HIV or AIDS
Ritonavir is available with lopinavir as a fixed dose combination as it improves the availability of lopinavir which helps in increasing activity against HIV
Ritonavir, a protease inhibitor
Ritonavir belongs to a class of medication called protease inhibitors. It inhibits protease enzymes from breaking down proteins and thus prevents HIV from multiplying inside the body. It does not cure HIV completely but reduces the chances of getting acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV related infections or cancer
Ritonavir is used as a booster to increase the absorption of other protease inhibitors as well as prevent other protease inhibitors from being degraded.