Ritonavir is used in the treatment of HIV infection.

Ritonavir is antiviral medication. It prevents the multiplication of HIV virus in human cells. Thus stops the HIV virus from producing new viruses.

Altered taste, Headache, Nausea, Diarrhoea, Paresthesia (tingling or pricking sensation), Dizziness, Cough, Abdominal pain, Throat pain, Peripheral neuropathy (tingling and numbness of feet and hand)

• Consult your doctor about taking the ritonavir if you had a history of hepatitis A or B, hemophilia, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, kidney disease, any kind of infection, stiffness or aches or pains in joints, weakness or pain or tenderness in muscles, light-headedness, dizziness, fainting episodes or abnormal heartbeat.
• Ritonavir tablets should always be taken with food.
• Use effective methods of contraception to avoid pregnancy.
• Do not drive or operate machinery as ritonavir can cause dizziness or sleepiness.

Ques. Q. What is Ritonavir used for?
It is used along with other medication for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It does not completely cure HIV or AIDS

Ques. Q. Why is ritonavir used along with lopinavir?
Ritonavir is available with lopinavir as a fixed dose combination as it improves the availability of lopinavir which helps in increasing activity against HIV

Ques. Q. Is ritonavir a protease inhibitor?
Ritonavir, a protease inhibitor

Ques. Q. How does Ritonavir work and what does it inhibit?
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

Ques. Q. Why is it used as a booster?
Ritonavir is used as a booster to increase the absorption of other protease inhibitors as well as prevent other protease inhibitors from being degraded.