What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Budesonide and ritonavir
Budesonide's FDA label of October 11, 2019 names ritonavir in its drug interactions section, and ritonavir's label names budesonide too. The ritonavir label: “Coadministration with corticosteroids whose exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression.Alternative corticosteroids including …”
Check it at the source: the budesonide FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 11, 2019, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP); the ritonavir FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 23, 2026, AbbVie Inc.).
What does the budesonide label say about ritonavir?
Budesonide label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir): Use with caution.
Budesonide label, warnings and precautionsInteractions with Strong Cytochrome P450 3A4 Inhibitors Caution should be exercised when considering the coadministration of PULMICORT RESPULES with ketoconazole, and other known strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir, atazanavir, clarithromycin, indinavir, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, saquinavir, telithromycin) because adverse effects related to increased systemic exposure to budesonide may occur [see Drug Interactions (7.1), Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Eohilia label (TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC., February 3, 2025), drug interactionsConcomitant use of budesonide with CYP3A4 inhibitors (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, cyclosporine, grapefruit juice) can increase systemic budesonide concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Tarpeyo label (Calliditas Therapeutics AB, January 21, 2026), drug interactionsAvoid use with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors; e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine [see Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )].
Budesonide label (Padagis US LLC, June 5, 2024), drug interactionsInhibitors of CYP3A4 (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, indinavir, saquinavir, erythromycin, and cyclosporine) can increase systemic budesonide concentrations [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)].
Source: FDA drug label (Eohilia, NDA213976), TAKEDA PHARMACEUTICALS AMERICA, INC., effective February 3, 2025 (SPL set 56f2023a-69b2-4470-b4ad-af7ec1be527a), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Tarpeyo, NDA215935), Calliditas Therapeutics AB, effective January 21, 2026 (SPL set 938cada4-d6bf-4252-836f-dd40f9eadb4d), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (PULMICORT RESPULES), AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, effective October 11, 2019 (SPL set 33cd9834-76df-4f26-3fa2-aab6b9eee8f2), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the ritonavir label say about budesonide?
Ritonavir label, drug interactionsConcomitant Drug Class/Drug Name: Systemic/Inhaled/ Nasal/Ophthalmic Corticosteroids: e.g., betamethasone budesonide ciclesonide dexamethasone fluticasone methylprednisolone mometasone prednisone triamcinolone; Effect on Concentration of Ritonavir or Concomitant Drug: ↑ glucocorticoids; Clinical Comment: Coadministration with corticosteroids whose exposures are significantly increased by strong CYP3A inhibitors can increase the risk for Cushing’s syndrome and adrenal suppression.Alternative corticosteroids including beclomethasone and prednisolone (whose PK and/or PD are less affected by strong CYP3A inhibitors relative to other studied steroids) should be considered, particularly for …
Source: FDA drug label (Norvir), AbbVie Inc., effective July 23, 2026 (SPL set 2849298e-de6e-47bb-8194-56e075b33fc3), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Budesonide | Ritonavir | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Asthma, Allergies, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis | HIV |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | $0.498 per capsule 3 mg capsule | $0.607 per tablet 100 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once