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Basic Informations

Norvir is an HIV medication. It is in a category of HIV medications called protease inhibitors (PIs). Norvir prevents CD4 cells that have been infected with HIV from producing new HIV.

Norvir is manufactured by Abbott Laboratories. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved it for the treatment of HIV infection in 1996.

Norvir is one of the two drugs in Kaletra. Kaletra contains the protease inhibitor lopinavir and small amounts of Norvir.

Drugs Interactions

Norvir is broken down (metabolized) by the liver, like many medications used to treat HIV and AIDS. This means that Norvir can interact with other medications. Norvir, more than most other HIV drugs, can lower or raise the levels of other medications in the body. Similarly, some medications can lower or raise the levels of Norvir in the body. While many interactions are not a problem, some can cause your medications to be less effective or increase the risk of side effects.

Tell your doctors and pharmacists about all medicines you take. This includes those you buy over-the-counter and herbal or natural remedies, such as St. John’s Wort. Bring all your medicines when you see a doctor, or make a list of their names, how much you take, and how often you take them. Your doctor can then tell you if you need to change the dose of any of your medications.

The following medications should not be taken while you are being treated with Norvir:

  • Acid reflux/heartburn medications: Propulsid (cisapride)

  • Antibiotics: Priftin (rifapentine)

  • Antifungals: Vfend (voriconazole)

  • Antimigraine medications: Methergine, Methylergometrine (methylergonovine); Ergostat, Cafergot, Ercaf, Wigraine (ergotamine); Ergotrate, Methergine (ergonovine); or D.H.E. 45, Migranal (dihydroergotamine)

  • Antihistamines: Hismanal (astemizole) or Seldane (terfenadine)

  • Heart medications: Cordarone (amiodarone), Vascor (bepridil), Tambocor (flecainide), Rythmol (propafenone), or Quinaglute/Quinidex (quinidine)

  • Cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins): Zocor (simvastatin) and Mevacor (lovastatin)

  • Antipsychotics: Orap (pimozide)

  • Sedatives: Versed (midazolam) and Halcion (triazolam)

  • Enlarged prostate: Uroxatral (alfuzosin)

  • Pulmonary Hypertension: sildenafil, used as Revatio

  • Herbal products: St. John's wort

Anticonvulsants, such as Tegretol (carbamazepine), Luminal (phenobarbital), and Dilantin (phenytoin), may interact with Norvir and should be used with caution. Norvir can increase Tegretol levels in the bloodstream.

HIV protease inhibitors can interact with Norvir. Norvir can increase the blood levels of all the available protease inhibitors; none of the protease inhibitors have a significant effect on Norvir levels in the bloodstream. The usual Norvir dose, when combined with other protease inhibitors, is one or two 100 mg capsule once or twice a day (see our other protease inhibitor pages for correct dosing if Norvir is also used).

HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) can also interact with Norvir. Rescriptor (delavirdine) and Sustiva (efavirenz) can increase the amount of Norvir in the bloodstream (similarly, levels of Sustiva can also increase when combined with Norvir). A third NNRTI, Viramune (nevirapine), does not alter levels of Norvir in the bloodstream. Little is known about the interaction between Intelence (etravirine) and Norvir; Intelence should not be used with the full therapeutic dose of Norvir (600 mg twice daily).

Norvir can interact with a number of pain killers (analgesics and anesthetics). This includes Demerol (meperidine) is a powerful analgesic. Norvir can increase the amount of normeperidine, an active byproduct of Demerol, in the bloodstream. In turn, Demerol should be used cautiously if it must be combined with Norvir. Other analgesic drugs that may require dose changes include Ultram (tramadole) and Darvon (propoxyphene).

Another painkiller, methadone, commonly used to treat drug addiction, can interact with Norvir. Methadone levels in the bloodstream can decrease when combined with Norvir. Because of this, it might be necessary to increase the dose of methadone.

Norpramin (desipramine) is used to treat depression. Levels of this drug can increase in the bloodstream if it is combined with Norvir. In turn, it might be necessary to reduce the usual dosage of this drug.

Antabuse (disulfiram) is a medication taken by people with an alcohol-dependency problem. This medication can make people very sick if they consume even small amounts of alcohol. Because the liquid formulation of Norvir contains small amounts of alcohol, it should not be combined with Antabuse.

Flagyl (metronidazole) is used to treat some types of parasitic infections. People should not drink alcohol—or take medications that contain alcohol—while taking this drug. The combination of alcohol and Flagyl can cause someone to become very ill. In turn, HIV-positive people taking the liquid formulation of Norvir should not take Flagyl.

Norvir can interact with some medications used to treat TB, MAC, and other bacterial infections. Rifadin (rifampin) can decrease Norvir levels and Norvir can increase Rifadin levels (these drugs should not be used together). Norvir can increase Mycobutin (rifabutin) (the Mycobutin dose will need be reduced to 150mg every other day or three-times-weekly). Norvir also raises Biaxin (clarithromycin) levels in the bloodstream (the Biaxin dose will need to be decreased).

Norvir can interact with some medications used to treat different types of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure. Caution is recommended when combining Norvir with tese medications, which include drugs used to treat heart-rythm disturbances—such as Norpace (disopyramide), Xylocaine (lidocaine), and Mexitil (mexiletine—and a class of drugs called beta blockers—such as Lopressor (metoprolol) and Blocadren (timolol).

Another class of drugs used to treat cardiovascular disease, called calcium channel blockers, can also incteract with Norvir. These include Cardizem (diltiazem), Procardia (nifedipine) and Covera (verapamil). Digoxin and Tracleer (bosentan) are two other drugs commonly used to treat heart problems.

Norvir can increase blood levels of cochicine, which is used to treat gout. Lower doses of colchicine are recommended, and the two drugs should not be used together in people with liver or kidney impairment.

Norvir can interact with some medications used to treat thrush (candidiasis) and other fungal infections. Norvir can increase Nizoral (ketoconazole) levels in the bloodstream. In turn, you should be taking no more than 200mg Nizoral daily while on Norvir.

Norvir decreases the amount of oral contraceptives (taken by women to help avoid pregnancy) in the bloodstream. This means that there may be a higher risk of becoming pregnant if Norvir and oral contraceptives are taken at the same time. To reduce the risk of pregnancy, barrier protection (e.g., condoms) should be used.

Cholesterol-lowering drugs, also known as "statins," can interact with Norvir. There are two statins that should not be used with Norvir: Zocor (simvastatin) and Mevacor (lovastatin). Levels of these two drugs can become significantly increased in the bloodstream if they are combined with Norvir, which increases the risk of side effects. The two statins that are considered to be the safest in combination with Norvir are Pravachol (pravastatin) and Lescol (fluvastatin). It is also possible to take Norvir with Lipitor, although Norvir can increase the levels of this drug in the bloodstream. If Lipitor is prescribed, it's best to begin treatment with the lowest possible dose of the drug and then increase the dose if necessary. Little is known about the newest statin, Crestor (rosuvastatin), although it is not expected to have any serious drug interactions with Norvir or the other protease inhibitors.

Some patients with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) take a drug called theophylline. Norvir can decrease the amount of theophylline in the bloodstream. If these two drugs are taken at the same time, a doctor can order a blood test to check the level of theophylline in the bloodstream. If the theophylline level is too low, the dose can be increased.

Some patients with asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema also take a drug called fluticasone (found in Flovent and Advair), an inhaled medication known as a corticosteroid. Some patients taking fluticasone while taking Norvir have experienced Cushing's syndrome, a hormonal disorder that can cause a variety of symptoms (e.g., extreme puffiness, easily damaged skin, fatigue, weakness). It is possible that Norvir increases fluticasone levels in the body, leading to an increased risk of Cushing's syndrome. Care should be taken if these two drugs are used together, until more studies are completed. Norvir can increase blood levels of an asthma medication called Serevent (salmeterol), a drug that is used to open the air passages in the lungs during an asthma attack. This can result in heart rhythm problems. Use of the two drugs together is not recommended.

There is a class of drugs, known as PDE-5 inhibitors that are used to treat both erectile dysfunction and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Their brand names differ, depending on their use. Prezista/Norvir can significantly increase blood levels of these drugs.
When used to treat erectile dysfunction, it is best to use a lower dose of Viagra (sildenafil), Levitra (vardenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) in order to reduce the risk of side effects. When used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, the dose of tadalafil (Adcirca) must be reduced if combined with Prezista/Norvir. Revatio (sildenafil) and Prezista/Norvir should not be used together.


Herbal products can also interact with Norvir. St. John's wort should not be used with Norvir, since it can greatly reduce the amount of Norvir in the bloodstream. HIV-positive people should also be cautious about using garlic supplements or milk thistle with Norvir—test tube studies suggest that both herbal products can interact with the same liver enzyme system (cytochrome P450 3A4) responsible for metabolizing Norvir. This may alter the amount of Norvir in the bloodstream. These and other herbal products should be used with caution, until further studies are conducted.

Other drug interactions are possible. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (or plan to take), including those you buy over-the-counter at your pharmacy or health-food store, while taking Norvir.

Side Effects

The most common side effects of Norvir therapy—which are usually more severe if the standard dose (600mg twice-daily) is used—are related to the gut. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and appetite loss are common.

Another possible side effect of Norvir is numbness/tingling around the mouth (oral paresthesias).

HIV drug regimens containing protease inhibitors, including Norvir, can cause increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood, abnormal body-shape changes (lipodystrophy; including increased fat around the abdomen, breasts, and back of the neck, as well as decreased fat in the face, arms, and legs), and diabetes.