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Can you take Ritonavir with Sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol?

1 drug interaction and 19 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Moderate drug interactions

Moderate:

ritonavir taurursodiol

Applies to: ritonavir and sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

Taurursodiol may increase the blood levels and effects of ritonavir. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications. Contact your doctor if your condition changes or you experience increased side effects. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate:

ritonavir Food/Lifestyle

Applies to: ritonavir

Ritonavir should be taken with food to lessen gastrointestinal side effects. It is important that you take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not change your treatment or stop treatment without first talking to your doctor.

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate Food/Lifestyle

Applies to: sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

Food may affect the absorption of sodium phenylbutyrate. A high-fat, high-calorie meal (approximately 800 to 1000 calories; 500 to 600 calories from fat, 250 calories from carbohydrate, 150 calories from protein) has been shown to reduce the absorption of sodium phenylbutyrate, although it is unknown what impact this may have on the overall effectiveness of the medication. The manufacturer recommends taking sodium phenylbutyrate before a meal or snack. This is especially important if you weigh less than 70 kg (approximately 154 pounds). Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions on how to take this or other medications you are prescribed. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medication without first talking to your doctor.

Disease interactions

17 potential interactions Applies to: 15 conditions, including High Cholesterol, Heart Failure, Peripheral Neuropathy, Heart Disease, and Diabetes Mellitus.

Abnormal Glucose Tolerance

Moderate:

ritonavir

Ritonavir has a moderate potential interaction with Abnormal Glucose Tolerance.

New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and some cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors. Some patients required either initiation or dosage adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, hyperglycemia persisted despite discontinuation of protease inhibitor therapy. A causal relationship has not been established between protease inhibitor therapy and these events. Monitoring patients for hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus should be considered during protease inhibitor therapy.

Biliary Obstruction

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The taurursodiol in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Biliary Obstruction.

Sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol contains taurursodiol, a bile acid. In patients with disorders that interfere with bile acid circulation, there may be an increased risk for diarrhea and patients should be monitored appropriately. Other conditions such as pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal malabsorption, or intestinal diseases that may alter the concentration of bile acids, may also lead to decreased absorption of this drug and its components. Consider consulting with a GI specialists with experience managing these GI disorders. Patients with disorders of enterohepatic circulation (e.g., biliary infection, active cholecystitis, etc.), severe pancreatic disorders (e.g., pancreatitis), and intestinal disorders that may alter concentrations of bile acids (e.g., ileal resection, regional ileitis, etc.) were excluded from clinical studies and there is no experience in patients with these conditions. Caution is advised.

Central Nervous System Disorders

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Central Nervous System Disorders.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is a pro-drug and is rapidly metabolized to the active, phenylacetate. Neurotoxicity, including exacerbation of a preexisting neuropathy, has been reported with the use of intravenous phenylacetate. The acute onset and reversibility when the phenylacetate infusion was discontinued suggested a drug effect. Care should be exercised when prescribing sodium phenylbutyrate to patients at risk for neurotoxicity.

Coagulation Defects and Disorders

Moderate:

ritonavir

Ritonavir has a moderate potential interaction with Coagulation Defects and Disorders.

There have been reports of increased bleeding, including spontaneous skin hematomas and hemarthrosis, in patients with hemophilia type A and B treated with protease inhibitors; however, a causal relationship has not been established. In some patients, additional factor VIII was given. In more than half of the reported cases, protease inhibitor therapy was continued or reintroduced. Patients with hemophilia or other coagulation defects should be monitored closely for bleeding during protease inhibitor therapy.

Diabetes Mellitus

Moderate:

ritonavir

Ritonavir has a moderate potential interaction with Diabetes Mellitus.

New onset diabetes mellitus, exacerbation of preexisting diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, and some cases of diabetic ketoacidosis have been reported during postmarketing surveillance in HIV-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors. Some patients required either initiation or dosage adjustments of insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents for treatment of these events. In some cases, hyperglycemia persisted despite discontinuation of protease inhibitor therapy. A causal relationship has not been established between protease inhibitor therapy and these events. Monitoring patients for hyperglycemia, new onset diabetes mellitus, or exacerbation of diabetes mellitus should be considered during protease inhibitor therapy.

Fluid Retention

Major:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a major potential interaction with Fluid Retention.

The use of sodium phenylbutyrate may cause fluid retention in patients with congestive heart failure, renal dysfunction, or sodium retention with edema. Sodium phenylbutyrate is primarily excreted by the kidney and these patients may exhibit reduced excretion. Therapy with sodium phenylbutyrate should be administered cautiously in these patients. Monitoring plasma levels of ammonia, arginine, branched-chain amino acids and serum proteins to maintain within normal limits and glutamine to less than 1000 mcmol/L is recommended.

Gallbladder Disease

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The taurursodiol in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Gallbladder Disease.

Sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol contains taurursodiol, a bile acid. In patients with disorders that interfere with bile acid circulation, there may be an increased risk for diarrhea and patients should be monitored appropriately. Other conditions such as pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal malabsorption, or intestinal diseases that may alter the concentration of bile acids, may also lead to decreased absorption of this drug and its components. Consider consulting with a GI specialists with experience managing these GI disorders. Patients with disorders of enterohepatic circulation (e.g., biliary infection, active cholecystitis, etc.), severe pancreatic disorders (e.g., pancreatitis), and intestinal disorders that may alter concentrations of bile acids (e.g., ileal resection, regional ileitis, etc.) were excluded from clinical studies and there is no experience in patients with these conditions. Caution is advised.

Heart Disease

Moderate:

ritonavir

Ritonavir has a moderate potential interaction with Heart Disease.

Ritonavir may prolong the PR interval in some patients. Postmarketing cases of second or third degree atrioventricular block have been reported. Ritonavir should be administered with caution in patients with underlying structural heart disease, preexisting conduction abnormalities, ischemic heart disease, and cardiomyopathies as these patients might be at increased risk for developing cardiac conduction abnormalities.

Heart Failure

Major:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a major potential interaction with Heart Failure.

The use of sodium phenylbutyrate may cause fluid retention in patients with congestive heart failure, renal dysfunction, or sodium retention with edema. Sodium phenylbutyrate is primarily excreted by the kidney and these patients may exhibit reduced excretion. Therapy with sodium phenylbutyrate should be administered cautiously in these patients. Monitoring plasma levels of ammonia, arginine, branched-chain amino acids and serum proteins to maintain within normal limits and glutamine to less than 1000 mcmol/L is recommended.

High Cholesterol

Moderate:

ritonavir

Ritonavir has a moderate potential interaction with High Cholesterol.

Treatment with ritonavir alone or in combination with other protease inhibitors (e.g., lopinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir, fosamprenavir) has resulted in substantial increases in the concentration of total cholesterol and triglycerides. These effects have also been reported with other protease inhibitors but may be the most dramatic with ritonavir. The clinical significance of these elevations is unclear. Marked elevation in triglyceride levels is a risk factor for development of pancreatitis. Triglyceride and cholesterol testing is recommended before starting ritonavir (with or without other protease inhibitors) and periodically during therapy. Lipid disorders should be managed as clinically appropriate.

Liver Disease

Moderate:

ritonavir

Ritonavir has a moderate potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Hepatotoxicity (including jaundice, clinical hepatitis, and hepatic transaminase elevations exceeding 5 times the upper limit of normal) has been reported in patients receiving ritonavir alone or in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Ritonavir should be administered with caution in patients with preexisting liver diseases, liver enzyme abnormalities, or hepatitis; increased monitoring of AST/ALT should be considered in these patients, especially during the first 3 months of ritonavir therapy. Ritonavir is not recommended for use in patients with severe liver dysfunction.

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Liver Disease.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is primarily metabolized in the liver and kidney. Therapy with sodium phenylbutyrate should be administered cautiously in patients with liver disease. Monitoring plasma levels of ammonia, arginine, branched-chain amino acids and serum proteins to maintain within normal limits and glutamine to less than 1000 mcmol/L is recommended.

Malabsorption Syndrome

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The taurursodiol in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Malabsorption Syndrome.

Sodium phenylbutyrate-taurursodiol contains taurursodiol, a bile acid. In patients with disorders that interfere with bile acid circulation, there may be an increased risk for diarrhea and patients should be monitored appropriately. Other conditions such as pancreatic insufficiency, intestinal malabsorption, or intestinal diseases that may alter the concentration of bile acids, may also lead to decreased absorption of this drug and its components. Consider consulting with a GI specialists with experience managing these GI disorders. Patients with disorders of enterohepatic circulation (e.g., biliary infection, active cholecystitis, etc.), severe pancreatic disorders (e.g., pancreatitis), and intestinal disorders that may alter concentrations of bile acids (e.g., ileal resection, regional ileitis, etc.) were excluded from clinical studies and there is no experience in patients with these conditions. Caution is advised.

Myoneural Disorder

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Myoneural Disorder.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is a pro-drug and is rapidly metabolized to the active, phenylacetate. Neurotoxicity, including exacerbation of a preexisting neuropathy, has been reported with the use of intravenous phenylacetate. The acute onset and reversibility when the phenylacetate infusion was discontinued suggested a drug effect. Care should be exercised when prescribing sodium phenylbutyrate to patients at risk for neurotoxicity.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Peripheral Neuropathy.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is a pro-drug and is rapidly metabolized to the active, phenylacetate. Neurotoxicity, including exacerbation of a preexisting neuropathy, has been reported with the use of intravenous phenylacetate. The acute onset and reversibility when the phenylacetate infusion was discontinued suggested a drug effect. Care should be exercised when prescribing sodium phenylbutyrate to patients at risk for neurotoxicity.

Renal Dysfunction

Major:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a major potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

The use of sodium phenylbutyrate may cause fluid retention in patients with congestive heart failure, renal dysfunction, or sodium retention with edema. Sodium phenylbutyrate is primarily excreted by the kidney and these patients may exhibit reduced excretion. Therapy with sodium phenylbutyrate should be administered cautiously in these patients. Monitoring plasma levels of ammonia, arginine, branched-chain amino acids and serum proteins to maintain within normal limits and glutamine to less than 1000 mcmol/L is recommended.

Moderate:

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

The sodium phenylbutyrate in sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol has a moderate potential interaction with Renal Dysfunction.

Sodium phenylbutyrate is primarily metabolized in the liver and kidney. Therapy with sodium phenylbutyrate should be administered cautiously in patients with liver disease. Monitoring plasma levels of ammonia, arginine, branched-chain amino acids and serum proteins to maintain within normal limits and glutamine to less than 1000 mcmol/L is recommended.

More resources

ritonavir

A total of 729 drugs are known to interact with ritonavir.

sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol

A total of 590 drugs are known to interact with sodium phenylbutyrate / taurursodiol.

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.