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ritonavir

Norvir · ATC code J05AE03

Key facts
Active substance
ritonavir
Drug class
Direct acting antiviral
ATC code
J05AE03
Authorisation
centrally authorised across the EU (EMA)
Dosage forms
Norvir 100 mg powder for oral suspension · Norvir 100 mg film-coated tablets
Marketing authorisation holder
AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
Information as of
2026-10-27

Key facts

Ritonavir is an HIV protease inhibitor used as a pharmacokinetic enhancer (booster) of other protease inhibitors in antiretroviral combination therapy.

What it is used for

  • Pharmacokinetic enhancer of co-administered protease inhibitors in HIV-1 infection
  • Adults and children 2 years of age and older, as part of antiretroviral combination therapy

Dosing

  • Dosing depends on the co-administered protease inhibitor; its SmPC must be consulted
  • Adults, e.g.: atazanavir 300 mg + ritonavir 100 mg once daily; darunavir 800 mg + ritonavir 100 mg once daily
  • Fosamprenavir 700 mg + ritonavir 100 mg twice daily; tipranavir 500 mg + ritonavir 200 mg twice daily (not in treatment-naïve patients)
  • Film-coated tablets taken with food and swallowed whole
  • No dose adjustment in the elderly; not in decompensated liver disease

Contraindications

  • Hypersensitivity; decompensated liver disease
  • Drugs whose levels rise dangerously with CYP3A inhibition, e.g. alfuzosin, amiodarone, dronedarone, quinidine, ranolazine, pimozide, quetiapine, lurasidone
  • Ergot derivatives, cisapride, lovastatin, simvastatin, lomitapide, oral midazolam, triazolam
  • Sildenafil for pulmonary arterial hypertension; St John's wort

Important warnings

  • Warnings of the co-administered protease inhibitor apply
  • Not a cure for HIV-1 infection; opportunistic infections may still occur
  • Diarrhoea may compromise absorption and efficacy; renal function monitored in renal impairment
  • Caution in haemophilia and severe hepatic impairment

Side effects

  • Depend on the co-administered protease inhibitor
  • Most frequent: gastrointestinal (diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain), paraesthesia including oral paraesthesia, fatigue/asthenia

Interactions

  • Potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6: increased levels of many drugs with risk of serious adverse effects
  • St John's wort lowers ritonavir levels (contraindicated)
  • Interacts with oral contraceptives: an alternative contraceptive method should be used

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

  • A large amount of data shows no increase in birth defects; can be used in pregnancy if clinically needed
  • Women living with HIV should not breast-feed while receiving ritonavir

Summary of the official product information, written with AI (Claude, Anthropic) on 2026-10-28. Every number was checked automatically against the original text. Not reviewed by a physician – the full official text is authoritative.

Full official text →

Common questions – ask Medelix

For patients

Package leaflet, verbatim

Package leaflet for patients →

Authorisation and brand names by country

Medicines with exactly this active-substance composition, as listed in the national registers – alphabetical and without ranking. Whether a product is currently available is not shown here.

EU – centrally authorised (all member states)

Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), product information

Austria

  • Ritonavir AccordAccord Healthcare B.V. · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Germany

  • Ritonavir AccordAccord Healthcare B.V. · 1 register entry
  • Ritonavir HexalHexal Ag · 1 register entry

Source: EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), as of 2026-10-28

Turkey

  • NorvirABBVİE TIBBİ İLAÇLAR SAN. VE TİC. LTD. ŞTİ. · 3 register entries
  • RitocovWORLD MEDICINE İLAÇ SAN. VE TİC. A.Ş. · 1 register entry

Source: TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, as of 2026-10-16

Brand names in 16 more European countries
Belgium
Ritonavir Accord
Cyprus
Ritonavir Accord
Denmark
Ritonavir Accord
Estonia
Ritonavir Auxilia
Finland
Ritonavir Accord
France
Ritonavir Arrow
Hungary
Ritonavir Accord
Iceland
Norvir, Ritonavir Viatris
Italy
Ritonavir Sandoz
Liechtenstein
Norvir, Ritonavir Viatris
Netherlands
Ritonavir Accord, Ritonavir Sandoz
Norway
Norvir, Ritonavir Viatris
Poland
Ritonavir Accord, Ritonavir Aurovitas
Portugal
Ritonavir Farmoz, Ritonavir Generis, Ritonavir Sandoz
Spain
Ritonavir Accord
Sweden
Ritonavir Accord

EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28

Medelix receives no money from pharmaceutical companies. Brand names are listed alphabetically and without ranking.

Other substances in the same group

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Medelix answers clinical questions from guidelines, studies and product information – every claim with its source.

Sources

  1. European Medicines Agency. Norvir – EPAR, Product Information (OF THE TEXT Detailed information on this product is availabl). 2026-10-27. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/norvir-epar-product-information_en.pdf
  2. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  3. EMA – Article 57 product data (EU/EEA), 2026-10-28. https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/human-regulatory-overview/post-authorisation/data-medicines-iso-idmp-standards-post-authorisation/public-data-article-57-database
  4. TİTCK – Ruhsatlı Beşeri Tıbbi Ürünler Listesi, 2026-10-16. https://www.titck.gov.tr/dinamikmodul/85
  5. Wikidata (CC0): ATC J05AE.

Editorial: Medelix editorial team · last updated 2026-10-27 · How these pages are made · Report an error

Source: European Medicines Agency (EMA), product information. Not advertising, not a treatment recommendation. For questions about your own treatment, ask your doctor or pharmacist.