There is a moderate drug interaction between these two meds. Do not administer them alone. A doctor should assess your health before prescribing you Truvada along with ritonavir or give you an alternative med that’s safer than the two combined.
Truvada has two main active ingredients – TDF and EM. These two substances belong to the NRTI drug class. This med is mainly used for HIV treatment in combination with other ARVss, for PrEP ( alone alongside other recommended safer sex methods) as well as PEP (occupational and nonoccupational) therapy. As PEP, Truvada is used together with other antiretroviral meds to prevent acquisition after a possible virus encounter [1] [2].
Norvir (having the active ingredient ritonavir) is a well-known med approved for HIV-1 treatment. This drug is not administered alone but used together with other ARVs to effectively treat individuals living with HIV-1 infection. Norvir is a pharmacokinetic enhancer/booster of other protease inhibitors (PIs) [3].
As a part of a combination therapy, this medicine fully suppresses viral load and increases the CD4+ cell count. This results in a stronger immune function and a better quality of life.
There is a potential drug interaction between Truvada and Norvir meds. Coadministration of such tabs has not been studied. From clinical tests based on metabolism and clearance, there are no significant interactions between ritonavir and emtricitabine since ritonavir is metabolized by the CYP450 system.
There is a potential higher risk of renal impairment and related problems in patients receiving TDF in combination with a ritonavir-boosted PI. Since the coadministration of ritonavir and TDF can cause serious damage to the kidneys, a careful evaluation of the patient’s renal function and close monitoring of symptoms are needed to avoid adverse effects. [4].