RITONAVIR

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by AbbVie Inc.

Ritonavir Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

53,209 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About RITONAVIR

RITONAVIR is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by AbbVie Inc.. Based on analysis of 53,209 FDA adverse event reports, RITONAVIR has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for RITONAVIR include DRUG INTERACTION, FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY, ANXIETY, PAIN, EMOTIONAL DISTRESS. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for RITONAVIR.

AI Safety Analysis

Ritonavir has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 53,209 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Abbvie Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Interaction, Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy, Anxiety. Of classified reports, 91.0% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. Ritonavir reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly related to renal and pregnancy complications.

The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and renal issues. Pregnancy exposure is a significant concern, with multiple reports of spontaneous and induced abortions.

Patients taking Ritonavir should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Ritonavir can cause significant drug interactions, particularly with other antiretrovirals, and should be used with caution. Warnings are issued for its use during pregnancy, as it can lead to spontaneous or induced abortions. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Ritonavir received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 91.0% serious event ratio across 28,927 classified reports. The score accounts for 53,209 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INTERACTION2,541 reports
FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY2,374 reports
ANXIETY1,621 reports
PAIN1,572 reports
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS1,387 reports
ANHEDONIA1,234 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY1,227 reports
NAUSEA1,053 reports
DIARRHOEA1,021 reports
EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY997 reports
RENAL FAILURE948 reports
FATIGUE903 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY894 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE894 reports
DEPRESSION870 reports
OSTEOPOROSIS863 reports
ABORTION SPONTANEOUS847 reports
PYREXIA839 reports
ANAEMIA824 reports
VIROLOGIC FAILURE802 reports
PREMATURE BABY795 reports
VOMITING768 reports
RENAL IMPAIRMENT718 reports
DEATH710 reports
OFF LABEL USE697 reports
DRUG RESISTANCE649 reports
ASTHENIA603 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE594 reports
RASH585 reports
BONE DENSITY DECREASED570 reports
HEADACHE564 reports
DRUG EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY531 reports
BLOOD CREATININE INCREASED516 reports
NEPHROLITHIASIS494 reports
ECONOMIC PROBLEM486 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS483 reports
DYSPNOEA477 reports
LIPODYSTROPHY ACQUIRED460 reports
OSTEONECROSIS459 reports
OSTEOPENIA444 reports
CUSHING^S SYNDROME431 reports
TREATMENT NONCOMPLIANCE429 reports
PREMATURE DELIVERY427 reports
RENAL FAILURE ACUTE423 reports
ALANINE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED415 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN407 reports
HYPERTENSION401 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED399 reports
PNEUMONIA397 reports
MALAISE391 reports
HYPERBILIRUBINAEMIA382 reports
INSOMNIA382 reports
DIZZINESS380 reports
PRURITUS373 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE372 reports
ASPARTATE AMINOTRANSFERASE INCREASED362 reports
JAUNDICE359 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE345 reports
BLOOD BILIRUBIN INCREASED342 reports
ARTHRALGIA339 reports
MYALGIA334 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA334 reports
PATHOGEN RESISTANCE313 reports
LIVE BIRTH312 reports
NEUTROPENIA311 reports
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION307 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED304 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED301 reports
SUICIDAL IDEATION289 reports
VIRAL MUTATION IDENTIFIED289 reports
BACK PAIN285 reports
END STAGE RENAL DISEASE282 reports
ABORTION INDUCED280 reports
LOW BIRTH WEIGHT BABY274 reports
LOSS OF PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE IN DAILY ACTIVITIES272 reports
PANCYTOPENIA269 reports
IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION INFLAMMATORY SYNDROME267 reports
STILLBIRTH261 reports
CAESAREAN SECTION259 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION259 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY242 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL240 reports
CD4 LYMPHOCYTES DECREASED232 reports
PROTEINURIA231 reports
PSYCHOTIC DISORDER228 reports
MULTIPLE FRACTURES224 reports
DEHYDRATION219 reports
DIABETES MELLITUS219 reports
DECREASED APPETITE217 reports
BONE DEMINERALISATION216 reports
PREGNANCY214 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION214 reports
IMMUNE RECONSTITUTION SYNDROME212 reports
HYPOTENSION211 reports
OVERDOSE211 reports
LACTIC ACIDOSIS207 reports
COUGH205 reports
PANCREATITIS199 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE198 reports
RHABDOMYOLYSIS198 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • High percentage of serious adverse events (91%)
  • Multiple pregnancy-related complications
  • Renal failure and impairment are common
  • Psychiatric issues like anxiety and depression are frequently reported

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Male: 15,117, Female: 8,969, Unknown: 230. The most frequently reported age groups are age 50 (587 reports), age 52 (581 reports), age 43 (554 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 28,927 classified reports for RITONAVIR:

  • Serious: 26,325 reports (91.0%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 2,602 reports (9.0%)
Serious 91.0%Non-Serious 9.0%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Male15,117 (62.2%)
Female8,969 (36.9%)
Unknown230 (0.9%)

Reports by Age

Age 50587 reports
Age 52581 reports
Age 43554 reports
Age 54523 reports
Age 53506 reports
Age 44493 reports
Age 40487 reports
Age 46487 reports
Age 51477 reports
Age 47476 reports
Age 45475 reports
Age 42471 reports
Age 49437 reports
Age 48433 reports
Age 41422 reports
Age 39412 reports
Age 35408 reports
Age 55402 reports
Age 57394 reports
Age 58379 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Ritonavir can cause significant drug interactions, particularly with other antiretrovirals, and should be used with caution. Warnings are issued for its use during pregnancy, as it can lead to spontaneous or induced abortions.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Ritonavir, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug interaction, foetal exposure during pregnancy, anxiety, pain, emotional distress. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Patients should inform their healthcare provider about any pre-existing conditions, especially renal or psychiatric issues. Pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant should discuss the risks and benefits with their healthcare provider before using Ritonavir. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors Ritonavir's safety profile, and any new or severe adverse events should be reported promptly. Healthcare providers should be vigilant about monitoring patients for signs of renal and psychiatric issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Ritonavir?

The FDA has received approximately 53,209 adverse event reports associated with Ritonavir. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Ritonavir?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Ritonavir include Drug Interaction, Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy, Anxiety, Pain, Emotional Distress. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Interaction (2,541 reports), Foetal Exposure During Pregnancy (2,374 reports), Anxiety (1,621 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Ritonavir.

What percentage of Ritonavir adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 28,927 classified reports, 26,325 (91.0%) were classified as serious and 2,602 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Ritonavir (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Ritonavir break down by patient sex as follows: Male: 15,117, Female: 8,969, Unknown: 230. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Ritonavir?

The most frequently reported age groups for Ritonavir adverse events are: age 50: 587 reports, age 52: 581 reports, age 43: 554 reports, age 54: 523 reports, age 53: 506 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Ritonavir?

The primary manufacturer associated with Ritonavir adverse event reports is Abbvie Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Ritonavir?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Ritonavir include: Anhedonia, Maternal Exposure During Pregnancy, Nausea, Diarrhoea, Exposure During Pregnancy. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Ritonavir?

You can report adverse events from Ritonavir to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Ritonavir's safety score and what does it mean?

Ritonavir has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. Ritonavir reports show a high percentage of serious adverse events, particularly related to renal and pregnancy complications.

What are the key safety signals for Ritonavir?

Key safety signals identified in Ritonavir's adverse event data include: High percentage of serious adverse events (91%). Multiple pregnancy-related complications. Renal failure and impairment are common. Psychiatric issues like anxiety and depression are frequently reported. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Ritonavir interact with other drugs?

Ritonavir can cause significant drug interactions, particularly with other antiretrovirals, and should be used with caution. Warnings are issued for its use during pregnancy, as it can lead to spontaneous or induced abortions. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Ritonavir.

What should patients know before taking Ritonavir?

Patients should inform their healthcare provider about any pre-existing conditions, especially renal or psychiatric issues. Pregnant women or those planning to become pregnant should discuss the risks and benefits with their healthcare provider before using Ritonavir.

Are Ritonavir side effects well-documented?

Ritonavir has 53,209 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. The drug is associated with a wide range of reactions, including psychiatric, gastrointestinal, and renal issues. The volume of reports for Ritonavir reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Ritonavir?

The FDA closely monitors Ritonavir's safety profile, and any new or severe adverse events should be reported promptly. Healthcare providers should be vigilant about monitoring patients for signs of renal and psychiatric issues. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to RITONAVIR based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

LopinavirIndinavirNelfinavirSaquinavirAtazanavir
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.