Cholesterol levels and Ritonavir

[BM]

It would seem that the small dose of Ritonavir (100mg per day) in my combination has had no effect on my cholesterol levels. My total cholesterol is 3.3 mmol/L (127 mg/dL) which, according to my doctor, represents a record low for that clinic. This is actually a small decrease in total cholesterol: it was 3.4 mmol/L (131 mg/dL) before I started HAART.

When you consider I live in the heart attack capital of the world, it seems even more impressive! 

[risred1]

Echoing that... 100mg of Norvir is just to boost and is considered "small or low" dose. It doesn't mean its benign, obviously...

when the new boosters come out, I'll be looking to switch. Norvir refrigeration requirement is a pain, and it is quite pricy. Which is why other boosters are on the way!

[Miss Philicia]

Norvir refrigeration requirement is a pain

How is it a "pain"?  Your 30-day supply need not be kept in the fridge.  You don't live in the tropics.

[risred1]

I was instructed to keep it refrigerated at all times or as much as possible.

the pharmacy couldn't find it at first, because it was refrigerated.

I read on another thread, that you can't mail order Norvir, cause of the refrigeration issue.

And someone said they had caps in a suitcase in a car or airplane and they melted.

When I work festivals in the summer, it can get god awful hot... I've got to figure out, though its not that difficult, how to keep them dry in a ice chest, and I have to keep after it...

That's my understanding, but your saying its different...

I need to understand more of what your saying?

[veritas]

I was instructed to keep it refrigerated at all times or as much as possible.

the pharmacy couldn't find it at first, because it was refrigerated.

I read on another thread, that you can't mail order Norvir, cause of the refrigeration issue.

And someone said they had caps in a suitcase in a car or airplane and they melted.

When I work festivals in the summer, it can get god awful hot... I've got to figure out, though its not that difficult, how to keep them dry in a ice chest, and I have to keep after it...

That's my understanding, but your saying its different...
. I
I need to understand more of what your saying?

risred,
I receive Norvir by mail-order with no problem. I also don't refridgerate the Norvir I'm using for the current month of use. The other two months I do keep refridgerated  until needed.
I travel with norvir also,with no problem.
When you work at festivals, keep your meds in a small plastic envelope that you can buy at any crafts store and put them in your cooler.
I believe norvir, if unrefridgerated, must be kept at a temp below 80f.

v

[aztecan]

risred,
I receive Norvir by mail-order with no problem. I also don't refridgerate the Norvir I'm using for the current month of use. The other two months I do keep refridgerated  until needed.
I travel with norvir also,with no problem.
When you work at festivals, keep your meds in a small plastic envelope that you can buy at any crafts store and put them in your cooler.
I believe norvir, if unrefridgerated, must be kept at a temp below 80f.

v

I think that is the issue. I believe it is 78 degrees F or less that Norvir is safe outside of refrigeration (though 80 is pretty close).

Here where I live, 80 degrees is not even warm weather. In the summer, it averages 95 or so during the day and hot days are triple digits. My house often is warmer than 80 degrees during the day because I'm not here and the cooler isn't on.

I am also the person who had Norvir melt in his suitcase while it was in the trunk of my car. It was only there for about three hours, but that was all it took.

So, I keep, or used to keep, my Norvir refrigerated except for the week's worth I have in my pill box. That seems to have worked pretty well for me.

Of course, if you live in a cooler climate, you may not haver to keep them in the frig.

HUGS,

Mark

[veritas]

Mark,

I live in the NE so daily temp isn't much of a problem for me. I can understand living in AZ(?) daily temp would be a problem. When traveling, I use a cool pack during the summer.

I was going from memory on the temp for Norvir, thanks for the correction. I knew it was below 80 degrees f.
In any case, this issue goes away for you on your new meds. I 've been on Isentress/truvada/Prezista/norvir since Isentress was approved with no problems. Isentress is very lipid friendly. I hope it works out for you!

v

[Miss Philicia]

I need to understand more of what your saying?

No, you just need to read the label on the Norvir bottle.  I'd also get a better pharmacy.  Basically it's just the pharmacy that needs to worry about refrigeration, because they're keeping large amounts on hand for longer than 30-days.  It's a common misperception that just because one sees the pharmacy yank the Norvir out of the fridge that the patient has to do the same, but like I said it clearly has instructions on the labeling.

The other items you mention are simply over-inflated nonsense you're read on a web forum.  One need only worry if one lives somewhere and does not have air-conditioning in the summer.  Then you have an issue.

[Miss Philicia]

I am also the person who had Norvir melt in his suitcase while it was in the trunk of my car. It was only there for about three hours, but that was all it took.

Sheesh... do you throw Russel Stover in the trunk too?  I mean honestly, some things are just simple common sense.  ANY gel cap medication would melt in a car trunk.

[risred1]

I think we hijacked the thread.....

Thanks for the information though... I'll adjust my thinking. But I'm out camping enough to be concerned, and I do have to have waterproof containers that I can "store" the norvir in an ice chest.

thanks!

[aztecan]

Sheesh... do you throw Russel Stover in the trunk too?  I mean honestly, some things are just simple common sense.  ANY gel cap medication would melt in a car trunk.

I had misjudged the temps when I was traveling. The pills were in my suitcase. Its easy to do here. The temps vary by as much as 30 to 40 degrees between day and night,

Who is Russel Stover? Is that some of that frozen food stuff? Never touch it.

But, back to the original topic.

It would seem that the small dose of Ritonavir (100mg per day) in my combination has had no effect on my cholesterol levels. My total cholesterol is 3.3 mmol/L (127 mg/dL) which, according to my doctor, represents a record low for that clinic. This is actually a small decrease in total cholesterol: it was 3.4 mmol/L (131 mg/dL) before I started HAART.

When you consider I live in the heart attack capital of the world, it seems even more impressive! 

I know small doses of Norvir are not supposed to cause problems. but had a few minor side effects. Never enough to cause me to switch on their own, though.

I was on Lexiva, which isn't particularly lipid friendly. I wish I could have taken Reyataz, but that wasn't to be

HUGS,

Mark