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Ritonavir

Ritonavir is an HIV protease inhibitor used in combination with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children.

Brand names NorvirRitonavir film coated
Drug classes Breast Cancer Resistance Protein Inhibitors
Rx Forms 2
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
Reviewed by Last reviewed Jul 10, 2026 Content updated Oct 2, 2026
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand

The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 10 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →

Ritonavir at a glance The quick version — the full detail is in the Patient Information Guide below.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS
The Pharmacist’s Take By · Clinical pharmacist · Written

Ritonavir, on the market since about 1996 and available as a generic, is an HIV protease inhibitor that blocks an enzyme the virus needs to make infectious copies and slows the liver’s breakdown of other HIV drugs, so today it is mostly a low-dose “booster” and is never used on its own. Full doses are hard on the stomach, but at booster doses most people manage, mainly noticing nausea, diarrhea, an odd taste or tingling around the mouth. Its boxed warning covers life-threatening drug interactions, including certain sedatives, heart rhythm drugs and ergot migraine medicines, so get every new prescription, over-the-counter product or supplement checked first.

Clinical pearls

  • Take it with meals to ease stomach upset, and swallow tablets whole without chewing, crushing or breaking them.
  • Simvastatin and lovastatin are off-limits with ritonavir because of severe muscle breakdown, though other cholesterol medicines may work.
  • Hormonal birth control (the pill, patch or ring) may work less well, so use an extra or different method.
  • Expect regular blood tests for liver function, cholesterol and triglycerides, since ritonavir can strain the liver and raise blood fats.
How we write & review this content — our editorial policy →
⚠️ FDA Boxed Warning — the FDA’s strongest safety alert ▾

Ritonavir can cause life-threatening interactions with many common medications. Because ritonavir strongly affects the way the liver breaks down other drugs, combining it with certain medicines — including some sedatives, heart rhythm drugs, and ergot-based migraine treatments — can cause dangerously high levels of those drugs in your body, leading to severe or fatal reactions. Before starting ritonavir, your prescriber must review every medication you take. Similarly, if you are already on ritonavir and a new medicine is prescribed, that prescriber must know you are taking ritonavir. Never start a new drug — including over-the-counter medicines and supplements — without checking for interactions first.

Read the full warning on DailyMed →
How you get itPrescription only
Comes asTablet, Oral powder
Earliest FDA record1996
Companies listing it with the FDA8
FDA label last updatedJan 22, 2019
FDA’s strongest warning (boxed)Yes, read the warning

Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Ritonavir, written from its FDA label.

What Ritonavir is used for

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Ritonavir is an antiretroviral medicine approved for use in combination with other HIV drugs to treat HIV-1 infection.

  • Norvir tablets and Norvir oral solution: treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients older than one month, always in combination with other antiretroviral agents
  • Ritonavir tablets: treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and pediatric patients older than one month, always in combination with other antiretroviral agents
  • Norvir oral powder: specifically indicated for treatment of HIV-1 infection in pediatric patients, in combination with other antiretroviral agents

How Ritonavir works

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Ritonavir is an HIV protease inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme called HIV protease, which the virus must use to cut and assemble its proteins into new, infectious particles. When this step is blocked, the new virus copies are immature and cannot infect other cells. At full doses ritonavir acts as a direct antiviral; at lower doses it is also used to slow the liver's breakdown of other HIV protease inhibitors, raising and sustaining their blood levels — a strategy sometimes called pharmacokinetic boosting.

Ritonavir is a potent inhibitor of the CYP3A liver enzyme. This is the same property that makes it useful as a booster, but it also means it can dramatically increase the blood levels of many other drugs, which is why the drug interaction profile requires careful management.

Ritonavir dosage

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Ritonavir is taken by mouth, twice a day, with meals. All forms — tablets, oral solution, and oral powder — should be taken with food to help with absorption and reduce stomach upset. Tablets must be swallowed whole and never chewed, broken, or crushed. Dosing in children is based on body surface area and must not exceed the maximum twice-daily dose; follow your child's prescriber precisely.

  • Norvir oral powder is only available in 100 mg increments and cannot be used for doses smaller than 100 mg or amounts between 100 mg intervals
  • Norvir oral solution may be mixed with chocolate milk, Ensure®, or Advera® within one hour of dosing to improve taste
  • Norvir oral powder may be mixed with soft foods (like applesauce or pudding) or liquids (like water, chocolate milk, or infant formula)
  • Dose adjustments are required when ritonavir is combined with certain other protease inhibitors — always follow your prescriber's specific instructions

Dosing details from the FDA-approved label

From the Ritonavir prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.

  • Adult patients (treatment of HIV-1)
    • 600 mg twice daily by mouth to be taken with meals
    • Titration: start at no less than 300 mg twice daily and increase at 2 to 3 day intervals by 100 mg twice daily
    • Maximum: 600 mg twice daily
    • Must be used in combination with other antiretroviral agents; tablets swallowed whole, not chewed, broken or crushed
  • Pediatric patients older than 1 month
    • 350 to 400 mg per m2 twice daily by mouth to be taken with meals
    • Start at 250 mg per m2 twice daily and increase at 2 to 3 day intervals by 50 mg per m2 twice daily
    • Maximum: 600 mg twice daily
    • Dose based on body surface area; if 400 mg per m2 twice daily is not tolerated, the highest tolerated dose may be used for maintenance
  • Pediatric patients using NORVIR oral powder
    • Only for dosing increments of 100 mg
    • Use one packet for 100 mg and two packets for 200 mg
    • Not for doses less than 100 mg or incremental doses between 100 mg intervals; oral solution is preferred for those
  • Neonates (oral solution)
    • Oral solution should not be administered before a postmenstrual age of 44 weeks has been attained
    • Oral solution contains ethanol (approx. 43% v/v) and propylene glycol (approx. 27% w/v)
  • Pregnant women (oral solution)
    • NORVIR oral solution is not recommended during pregnancy
    • Due to its ethanol content
Read the label’s full dosing text

NORVIR oral solution is not recommended for use with polyurethane feeding tubes due to potential incompatibility. Feeding tubes composed of silicone or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used. (2.2) Adult patients: 600 mg twice-day with meals (2.3) Pediatrics patients: The recommended twice daily dose for children greater than one month of age is based on body surface area and should not exceed 600 mg twice daily with meals (2.4) NORVIR oral solution should not be administered to neonates before a postmenstrual age (first day of the mother’s last menstrual period to birth plus the time elapsed after birth) of 44 weeks has been attained (2.4 , 5.2) NORVIR oral powder can only be used for dosing increments of 100 mg (2.4) Instructions for Use should be followed for preparation and administration of NORVIR oral powder (2.5) Dose modification for NORVIR is necessary when used with other protease inhibitors (2.6) 2.1 General Administration Recommendations NORVIR must be used in combination with other antiretroviral agents. NORVIR is administered orally. NORVIR tablets should be swallowed whole, and not chewed, broken or crushed. Take NORVIR with meals. Patients may improve the taste of NORVIR oral solution by mixing with chocolate milk, Ensure ® , or Advera ® within one hour of dosing. NORVIR oral powder should be mixed with soft food such as apple sauce or vanilla pudding, or mixed with liquid such as water, chocolate milk, or infant formula [see Dosage and Administration ( 2.5 ) and Instructions for Use ] . The bitter aftertaste of NORVIR oral powder may be lessened if administered with food. General Dosing Guidelines Patients who take the 600 mg twice daily soft gel capsule NORVIR dose may experience more gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or diarrhea when switching from the soft gel capsule to the tablet formulation because of greater maximum plasma concentration (C max ) achieved with the tablet formulation relative to the soft gel capsule [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Patients should also be aware that these adverse events (gastrointestinal or paresthesias) may diminish as therapy is continued. 2.2 Administering Oral Solution by Feeding Tube Because NORVIR oral solution contains ethanol and propylene glycol, it is not recommended for use with polyurethane feeding tubes due to potential incompatibility.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →

Ritonavir side effects

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Stomach and digestive side effects are the most common complaints with ritonavir, and tingling sensations around the mouth are also frequently reported — these often improve as your body adjusts to the medicine.

Common side effects

  • Diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
  • Tingling or numbness (paresthesia), especially around the mouth
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Rash or itching
  • Changes in taste (dysgeusia)
  • Dizziness
  • Increased cholesterol or triglycerides (blood fats)
  • Muscle aches or joint pain
  • Muscle aches, joint pain, or back pain

When to get medical help

  • Signs of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), dark urine, severe fatigue, or right-sided stomach pain — liver failure has occurred
  • Signs of pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas): severe stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting — contact your doctor right away
  • Severe allergic reactions: hives, swelling of the face or throat, trouble breathing, or skin blistering (toxic epidermal necrolysis or Stevens-Johnson syndrome)
  • Heart rhythm problems: feeling faint, palpitations, or unusually slow or irregular heartbeat
  • New or worsening diabetes: increased thirst, frequent urination, or blurred vision
  • Signs of unusual bleeding if you have hemophilia: unexpected bruising or bleeding into joints

Seek immediate medical attention for signs of liver damage (yellowing skin or eyes, dark urine, severe tiredness), severe stomach pain that could signal pancreatitis, serious skin reactions (blistering, peeling), signs of a heart rhythm problem (fainting, palpitations), or a severe allergic reaction (throat swelling, difficulty breathing).

Ritonavir warnings and precautions

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  • Dangerous drug interactions: Ritonavir's effect on liver enzymes can push the blood levels of many other medications to dangerous or fatal levels. Some combinations are completely contraindicated (certain sedatives, heart rhythm drugs, ergot migraine medicines, specific cholesterol medicines, and others). Every medicine you take — including supplements — must be reviewed before starting ritonavir or adding anything new.
  • Liver toxicity: Serious and sometimes fatal liver injury has been reported. Patients with pre-existing hepatitis B or C are at higher risk. Liver enzymes are monitored before and during treatment.
  • Pancreatitis: Inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis), sometimes fatal, has been observed — especially in patients with very high triglycerides. Report severe stomach pain promptly.
  • Heart rhythm effects: Ritonavir can slow the heart's electrical conduction (PR interval prolongation). Rarely, serious heart block has occurred. Extra caution is needed in patients with existing heart conditions.
  • High blood fats: Ritonavir can substantially raise cholesterol and triglycerides; these are checked before and regularly during treatment.
  • Diabetes and blood sugar: New or worsening diabetes and high blood sugar have been reported with protease inhibitor therapy.
  • Premature newborns: Norvir oral solution contains alcohol and propylene glycol and must not be given to premature newborns in the immediate period after birth — life-threatening toxicity has been reported.

Ritonavir interactions

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Ritonavir interacts with a very large number of medications because it powerfully inhibits liver enzymes that break down many drugs. This is one of the most interaction-prone medicines in use.

  • Contraindicated combinations (never take together): certain sedatives/sleep aids (oral midazolam, triazolam); certain heart rhythm drugs (amiodarone, dronedarone, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine); ergot migraine medicines (ergotamine, dihydroergotamine); certain cholesterol drugs (lovastatin, simvastatin); the antifungal voriconazole at full ritonavir doses; alfuzosin; ranolazine; pimozide; lurasidone; cisapride; St. John's Wort
  • Blood thinners (warfarin, rivaroxaban): ritonavir can change warfarin levels unpredictably; rivaroxaban combination should be avoided due to bleeding risk
  • Opioid pain medicines (fentanyl, methadone, tramadol): levels can increase significantly — careful monitoring required; fentanyl in particular carries a risk of fatal respiratory depression
  • Antidepressants and antiseizure drugs: levels of many of these can be raised or lowered by ritonavir, requiring dose adjustments
  • Hormonal contraceptives: ritonavir may reduce their effectiveness — use an alternative or additional method
  • Other HIV medicines (other protease inhibitors, maraviroc): dose adjustments are often needed; consult each medicine's full prescribing information
  • Corticosteroids (fluticasone, budesonide): co-administration has been associated with Cushing's syndrome and adrenal suppression

Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label

From the Ritonavir prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.

  • Other HIV-1 protease inhibitors (atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, saquinavir, tipranavir): Concentrations of the protease inhibitor are increased. See the full prescribing information for that protease inhibitor; dose modification of NORVIR is necessary
  • Indinavir: Indinavir concentration is increased. Appropriate doses for this combination have not been established
  • Saquinavir with rifampin: Risk of severe hepatotoxicity if the three drugs are given together. Saquinavir/ritonavir in combination with rifampin is not recommended
  • Alfuzosin: Alfuzosin concentration is increased, with potential hypotension. Contraindicated
  • Ranolazine: Ranolazine concentration is increased, with potential for serious and/or life-threatening reactions. Contraindicated
  • Suzetrigine: Suzetrigine and its active metabolite M6-SUZ are increased, with potential for serious and/or life-threatening adverse reactions. Co-administration contraindicated
  • Amiodarone, dronedarone, flecainide, propafenone, quinidine: Antiarrhythmic concentrations are increased, with potential for cardiac arrhythmias. Contraindicated
  • Rivaroxaban: Rivaroxaban is increased and may lead to risk of increased bleeding. Avoid concomitant use
  • Warfarin: Warfarin concentrations may be increased or decreased. Initial frequent monitoring of the INR is recommended
  • Voriconazole: Voriconazole concentration is decreased, with potential loss of antifungal response. Contraindicated with ritonavir doses of 400 mg every 12 hours or greater; avoid with ritonavir 100 mg unless benefit/risk justifies use
Read the label’s full interactions text

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS When co-administering ritonavir with other protease inhibitors (atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, saquinavir, and tipranavir), see the full prescribing information for that protease inhibitor including important information for drug interactions. Co-administration of ritonavir can alter the concentrations of other drugs. The potential for drug-drug interactions must be considered prior to and during therapy. (4, 5.1, 7, 12.3) 7.1 Potential for Ritonavir to Affect Other Drugs Ritonavir is an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) and may increase plasma concentrations of agents that are primarily metabolized by CYP3A. Agents that are extensively metabolized by CYP3A and have high first pass metabolism appear to be the most susceptible to large increases in AUC (greater than 3-fold) when co-administered with ritonavir. Thus, co-administration of ritonavir with drugs highly dependent on CYP3A for clearance and for which elevated plasma concentrations are associated with serious and/or life-threatening events is contraindicated. Co-administration with other CYP3A substrates may require a dose adjustment or additional monitoring as shown in Table 3. Ritonavir also inhibits CYP2D6 to a lesser extent. Co-administration of substrates of CYP2D6 with ritonavir could result in increases (up to 2-fold) in the AUC of the other agent, possibly requiring a proportional dosage reduction. Ritonavir also appears to induce CYP3A, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2B6 as well as other enzymes, including glucuronosyl transferase. These examples are a guide and not considered a comprehensive list of all possible drugs that may interact with ritonavir. The healthcare provider should consult appropriate references for comprehensive information. 7.2 Established and Other Potentially Significant Drug Interactions Table 3 provides a list of established or potentially clinically significant drug interactions.

Excerpted — the section continues on the label. Read the full Drug Interactions section on DailyMed →

Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.

🌿178 supplements and herbs with documented Ritonavir interactions, ranked by severity Check Ritonavir against a supplement or herb →

Before taking Ritonavir

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  • Tell your prescriber and pharmacist about every medicine, supplement, and herbal product you take — the interaction list is extensive and some combinations are life-threatening
  • If you have liver disease, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, discuss this carefully — ritonavir requires close liver monitoring and is not recommended in severe liver impairment
  • If you have a heart rhythm disorder, structural heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or ischemic heart disease, ritonavir may worsen conduction problems — your doctor will weigh the risks
  • If you have hemophilia, be aware that protease inhibitors have been associated with increased bleeding episodes
  • If you are pregnant: Norvir oral solution is not recommended during pregnancy because it contains alcohol; discuss safe alternative formulations with your doctor
  • Do not breastfeed while taking ritonavir — HIV can be transmitted to the infant through breast milk, and ritonavir is present in human milk
  • If you use hormonal contraceptives (pills, patches, rings), use an additional or alternative method — ritonavir can reduce their effectiveness
  • For older adults: start cautiously; age-related changes in liver, kidney, and heart function can affect how ritonavir is handled
  • Norvir oral solution must not be given to premature newborns in the immediate postnatal period

Ritonavir overdose

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There is limited information on ritonavir overdose in humans, but one reported case involved tingling sensations (paresthesia) that resolved when the dose was reduced, and a post-marketing case involved kidney failure. Ingestion of the oral solution in excess by a young child is especially dangerous because it contains substantial amounts of alcohol and propylene glycol, which can be lethal.

There is no specific antidote. Treatment focuses on supportive care and monitoring. If you suspect an overdose, call a Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) or seek emergency care immediately.

What Ritonavir does in the body

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Ritonavir affects the heart's electrical system: it can prolong the PR interval (a measure of how long it takes the heart's electrical signal to travel from the upper to the lower chambers), and cases of second- and third-degree heart block (serious delays in that signal) have been reported. It can also cause meaningful increases in blood cholesterol and triglycerides. These effects are important reasons for regular heart and lab monitoring during treatment.

How your body processes Ritonavir

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Ritonavir is absorbed through the gut after oral dosing, with peak blood levels reached roughly 2–4 hours after the oral solution is taken. Absorption is actually somewhat lower when taken with food compared to fasting — though taking it with meals is still recommended to reduce stomach side effects. The drug is broken down mainly in the liver by the CYP3A enzyme (and to a lesser extent CYP2D6), and most of it leaves the body through the feces. Its half-life (the time for blood levels to fall by half) is approximately 3–5 hours, and it binds very tightly to proteins in the blood (98–99%). Children metabolize ritonavir roughly 1.5 to 1.7 times faster than adults, which is why pediatric dosing is calculated by body surface area.

How to store Ritonavir

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recommendations for NORVIR (ritonavir) tablets and oral powder are shown in the table below. Store at or below 30°C (86°F). Dispense in original container or USP equivalent tight container (60 mL or less).

Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

178

Supplements & herbs that interact with Ritonavir

178 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Ritonavir in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.

Severity mix
  • Major · 6
  • Moderate · 136
  • Minor · 36
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL Major BEER Major GRAPEFRUIT Major SIBERIAN COCKLEBUR Major ST. JOHN'S WORT Major WINE Major 1,4-BUTANEDIOL Moderate ACACIA RIGIDULA Moderate +170 more
Every supplement checked against Ritonavir — ranked by severity The full interaction hub: 6 major · 136 moderate · 36 minor · every one linked to its full report. Check Ritonavir against your exact supplements

Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.

Ritonavir: pharmacist answers to common questions

Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Ritonavir — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.

Why do I have to take ritonavir with other HIV medicines — can't I just take it alone?

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Ritonavir must always be used with other HIV medicines — that's how it's approved and how it works best. HIV treatment is a combination approach because using just one drug gives the virus a much easier chance to develop resistance. Your specific regimen is chosen by your doctor based on your health history, so stick with the full combination as prescribed.

I'm getting a lot of nausea and diarrhea. Is that normal, and will it get better?

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Yes, stomach side effects are actually the most common complaint with ritonavir — things like nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain are reported by a large number of people who take it. The good news is that these symptoms often improve as your body adjusts over the first few weeks. Taking it with meals can help. If they're severe or not getting better, let your doctor know — there may be ways to manage them.

I heard ritonavir interacts with a lot of other drugs. What do I need to watch out for?

▾
This is one of the most important things to know about ritonavir. It strongly affects the liver's ability to break down many other medications, which means some common drugs can build up to dangerous levels in your body. Some combinations are completely off-limits — including certain sleep medicines, heart rhythm drugs, some migraine medicines, and certain cholesterol drugs. Even St. John's Wort herbal supplement is a problem. Before you start or stop any medication — even something over the counter — check with your pharmacist or doctor first.

Can I take ritonavir if I'm pregnant or trying to get pregnant?

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Ritonavir therapy during pregnancy should be discussed in detail with your doctor. The tablet and powder forms may be options, but the oral solution is not recommended during pregnancy because it contains alcohol, and there is no known safe level of alcohol exposure during pregnancy. Available pregnancy registry data haven't shown an increased rate of birth defects, but your doctor will help you choose the safest approach for both you and your baby. There's also a pregnancy registry you can join to help researchers learn more — your doctor can give you that information.

Can I breastfeed my baby while I'm taking ritonavir?

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No — breastfeeding is not recommended if you are HIV-positive and taking ritonavir, or any HIV medicine. HIV can be passed to your baby through breast milk. Ritonavir has also been detected in human milk. The CDC recommends that mothers with HIV not breastfeed, regardless of viral load or HIV treatment status.

What warning signs should make me call my doctor right away?

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Call your doctor promptly if you notice yellowing of your skin or eyes, very dark urine, or severe fatigue — these can signal liver problems, which can be serious. Also call right away for severe stomach pain (possible pancreatitis), skin that is blistering or peeling, fainting or an unusually slow or irregular heartbeat, or any signs of a serious allergic reaction like throat swelling or difficulty breathing. These are uncommon but require prompt attention.

Is Ritonavir available over the counter?

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No. Ritonavir is a prescription medicine: every Ritonavir product listed with the FDA is prescription only, so it is not sold over the counter. Your prescriber decides whether it is appropriate for you, and your pharmacist dispenses it.

When was Ritonavir first available?

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The earliest FDA record we hold for Ritonavir is from 1996: its first approval in Drugs@FDA or its earliest product listing in the NDC Directory, whichever is older. Many older medicines were in use before their first formal FDA approval, so this is the earliest date on record, not necessarily when Ritonavir was first used.

Who makes Ritonavir?

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8 companies currently list Ritonavir products in the FDA's NDC Directory, including AbbVie Inc., Bryant Ranch Prepack, American Health Packaging. That count includes repackagers and distributors as well as manufacturers (companies that sell only the raw ingredient are not counted), so fewer companies actually make it; the label on your bottle names the one that supplied yours.

Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →

More about Ritonavir on HelloPharmacist

📊Ritonavir supplement interactions178 checked — ranked by severity 🌿Drug & Supplement CheckerRitonavir vs. vitamins & herbs 💬Ask a PharmacistFree answer, usually < 24h 🔎NDC & pricing lookupFind Ritonavir NDCs & costs 🅰️Browse Drugs A–ZLook up any medication
Detailed data & references for Ritonavir Forms & strengths, pricing, billing codes, manufacturers, safety reports and sourcing — the data behind the page. Most people can stop here. Each section below opens on a tap.

Ritonavir forms and strengths (how it comes)

Ritonavir is available in 2 forms. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.

Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Ritonavir inactive ingredients by manufacturer.

Tablet

By mouth
Brands Norvir
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Norvir tablets are used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and children older than one month
  • Ritonavir tablets are used in combination with other antiretroviral agents for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and children older than one month
Important instructions
  • Norvir tablets must be swallowed whole — do not chew, break, or crush them
  • Ritonavir tablets must be swallowed whole — do not chew, break, or crush them
  • Take with meals to help reduce stomach side effects
  • Dose modifications may be needed when Norvir or ritonavir tablets are used alongside other protease inhibitors — follow your prescriber's instructions exactly
Available strengths 1 strength
100 mg
23 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Oral powder

By mouth
Brands Norvir
How this form is used
What it may be used for
  • Norvir oral powder is indicated in combination with other antiretroviral agents specifically for the treatment of pediatric patients with HIV-1 infection
Important instructions
  • Norvir oral powder should be mixed with soft food such as applesauce or vanilla pudding, or with liquids such as water, chocolate milk, or infant formula before giving it
  • Norvir oral powder can only be used for dosing increments of 100 mg — it cannot be used for doses less than 100 mg or amounts between 100 mg intervals
  • Taking Norvir oral powder with food may help lessen its bitter aftertaste
  • Follow the Norvir Instructions for Use for correct preparation and administration of the oral powder
Available strengths 1 strength
100 mg
4 FDA-listed product records ⓘ

Ritonavir on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands

How Ritonavir appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.

8 companies list 10 Ritonavir product records with the FDA, mostly as tablet, oral powder; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 1996. Brand names on the directory include Norvir, Ritonavir film coated; the rest are generics.

2
Dose forms ⓘ
8
Labelers (makers, repackagers, distributors)
3
Brand names
10
FDA-listed product records ⓘ
1996
Earliest FDA record ⓘ

FDA-listed product records by dose form (tablet variants merged) — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (9) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.

AbbVie Inc.20%
Bryant Ranch Prepack20%
American Health Packaging10%
Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC10%
Aurobindo Pharma Limited10%
Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.10%
Other makers20%

Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.

How widely Ritonavir is used (Medicaid data)

A general measure of how commonly Ritonavir is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.

Think of this as a proxy for how widely Ritonavir is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.

162,610
Medicaid prescriptions filled (Q1–Q4 2025)
$216.7M gross Medicaid reimbursement (before mandatory rebates — net cost is lower)

How commonly is Ritonavir prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Ritonavir ranks #425 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 73% of them.

Where Ritonavir ranks among the drugs we measure · Q1–Q4 2025 · neighbors ±5
Total prescriptions — #425 of 1,601
#420 Bupivacaine 166,102 Rx #421 Cefadroxil 165,523 Rx #422 Phenobarbital 164,240 Rx #423 Doxazosin 163,836 Rx #424 Fludrocortisone Acetat... 163,820 Rx #425 Ritonavir 162,610 Rx #426 Ursodiol 159,875 Rx #427 Tobramycin Ophthalmic 159,866 Rx #428 Nitrofurantoin 157,792 Rx #429 Glucagon Nasal Powder 154,534 Rx #430 Dextrose 153,560 Rx

Utilization by Ritonavir product

Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.

The 100 mg oral tablet is the most-dispensed Ritonavir product — about 100% of these Medicaid prescriptions.

ritonavir 100 MG Oral Tablet Most dispensed

162,599 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) 100% of Ritonavir prescriptions shown $216.7M gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $1,333 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 8 of 27 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 900575

ritonavir 100 MG Oral Powder

11 Medicaid prescriptions (Q1–Q4 2025) <1% of Ritonavir prescriptions shown $2,935 gross reimbursement (before rebates) ≈ $267 per prescription (gross)

Summed across the 1 of 1 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1926066

Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.

Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Ritonavir, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 9 of 28 listed Ritonavir NDCs with Medicaid activity.

Compare Ritonavir products

A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Ritonavir — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)

Strength Route Manufacturer / Labeler Category ⓘ Details
💊Oral powder
100 mg Oral AbbVie Inc. NDA View NDC →
💊Tablet
100 mg Oral AbbVie Inc. NDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral American Health Packaging ANDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC ANDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral Aurobindo Pharma Limited ANDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral Bryant Ranch Prepack × 2 listings ANDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ANDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral Cipla USA Inc. ANDA View NDC →
100 mg Oral NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. ANDA View NDC →

Showing 10 of 10 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 10 Ritonavir NDCs →

Ritonavir recall history

A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.

The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Ritonavir recalls since July 2021.

✅No Ritonavir recalls on record since July 2021

Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.

RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength

This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.

Ingredient (IN) Ritonavir RxCUI 85762 4 dose forms · 4 strengths
  1. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Capsule RxCUI 373795 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 100 MG RxCUI 317150
  2. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Powder RxCUI 1926065 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 100 MG RxCUI 1926066
  3. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Solution RxCUI 373796 No current FDA listing
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 80 MG/ML RxCUI 199249
  4. Dose form (SCDF) Oral Tablet RxCUI 900574 In current FDA listings
    Clinical drug / strength (SCD) 100 MG RxCUI 900575

Look up RxCUI 85762 in the RxCUI Atlas →

RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.

💵 What Ritonavir costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)

The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.

FormStrengthPharmacy acquisition benchmark
Tablet, Film Coated · Oral 100 mg $8.35 per tablet NDC details & price history
Tablet · Oral 100 mg $0.607 per tablet NDC details & price history
Why show this? Your out-of-pocket cost depends on insurance, pharmacy markup, and discounts — but the acquisition benchmark tells you whether the medication itself is inexpensive or costly, which strengths cost more per dose, and whether a cash-price quote is in a reasonable range. Each row links to the NDC-level record with its full price history.

Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.

Ritonavir brand names

Ritonavir is sold under 2 brand names in the FDA directory — Norvir, Ritonavir film coated. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.

Norvir Ritonavir film coated

Who makes Ritonavir: manufacturers and labelers

8 companies list Ritonavir products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are AbbVie Inc., Bryant Ranch Prepack, American Health Packaging. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.

AbbVie Inc. 2 Bryant Ranch Prepack 2 American Health Packaging 1 Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC 1 Aurobindo Pharma Limited 1 Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1 Cipla USA Inc. 1 NuCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 1

Ritonavir drug class (RxNorm)

Ritonavir belongs to the Protease Inhibitor class.

Pharmacologic class Protease Inhibitor, Cytochrome P450 3A Inhibitor
Drug family (ATC) Antivirals for treatment of HCV infections, Protease inhibitors
How it works HIV Protease Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 2D6 Inhibitors, Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors, P-Glycoprotein Inhibitors

Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.

Sources for this Ritonavir page

Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.

📄
FDA-filed drug labels (SPL) Uses, dosing, warnings & side effects from SPL records retrieved through openFDA; the linked representative set can be verified on DailyMed. ✓ Linked label effective Jan 22, 2019
🏭
Forms, brands & labelersAggregated from ingredient-matched FDA National Drug Code Directory product records for Ritonavir.
📈
Real-world reportsThe FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), served through openFDA.
🚨
Recalls & shortagesopenFDA drug-enforcement reports and the FDA drug-shortage database.
🧾 Clinical label set — FDA-filed SPL labels retained for Ritonavir after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching
Clinical labels in scope
10
Finished products in the current FDA directory
10
Companies listing them (makers, repackagers, distributors)
8
FDA labeler codes behind them ⓘ
9
Linked representative label ⓘ
Doh Central Pharmacy
Linked label effective
Jan 22, 2019
Composite sections available
25
Linked SPL Set ID
bc00d131-afc3-457f-b18f-065775af6f1c
Linked SPL Document ID
ba727e7e-57cc-4564-afd1-9464f34f4d7d
Open the linked representative label on DailyMed ↗

How this page is built

HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Doh Central Pharmacy is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →