While using ritonavir, patients with underlying hepatitis B or C may be at increased risk for developing further transaminase elevations or hepatic decompensation. [have fun with those darn black-box warnings!]
Elevated hepatic enzymes, hepatitis, and jaundice have been reported during clinical trials of ritonavir. There have been post-marketing reports of hepatic dysfunction, including some fatalities, which have generally occurred in patients with advanced AIDS taking multiple concomitant medications. Elevations in SGOT/AST (range: 5.3—9.5% ritonavir teated adults vs. 2.5—7% control adults) and SGPT/ALT (range: 5.3—9.2% vs. 3.4—4.4%) were reported in clinical trials. Hepatitis (8.7%) and increased serum bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia), including jaundice, (1.4%), were reported in patients receiving ritonavir during clinical trials.
Other AEs:
diarrhea (67.9%), nausea (57.4%) abdominal pain (26.4%), dysgeusia (16.2%), dyspepsia (11.5%), flatulence (8.1%), fatigue (46.2%), paresthesias (including oral paresthesia, 50.7%), peripheral neuropathy (10.1%), Flushing (13.2%)
