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What the FDA labels say about taking them together

Carbamazepine and ritonavir

Ritonavir's FDA label of July 23, 2026 names carbamazepine in its drug interactions section; the carbamazepine labels PlainMeds reads (3) do not name ritonavir. The ritonavir label: “A dose decrease may be needed for these drugs when co-administered with ritonavir and therapeutic concentration monitoring is recommended for these anticonvulsants, if available.”

Check it at the source: the carbamazepine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 20, 2026, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation); the ritonavir FDA label on DailyMed (effective July 23, 2026, AbbVie Inc.).

What does the carbamazepine label say about ritonavir?

Carbamazepine's label (effective August 20, 2026) and its 2 other brand-application labels do not name ritonavir in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.

Source: FDA drug label (Tegretol), Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, effective August 20, 2026 (SPL set 8d409411-aa9f-4f3a-a52c-fbcb0c3ec053), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed

What does the ritonavir label say about carbamazepine?

Ritonavir label, drug interactions

Concomitant Drug Class/Drug Name: Anticonvulsants: carbamazepine, clonazepam, ethosuximide; Effect on Concentration of Ritonavir or Concomitant Drug: ↑ anticonvulsants; Clinical Comment: A dose decrease may be needed for these drugs when co-administered with ritonavir and therapeutic concentration monitoring is recommended for these anticonvulsants, if available.

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

42Carbamazepine generic labelers
7Ritonavir generic labelers
CarbamazepineRitonavir
Labeled forBipolar disorder, Seizures and epilepsyHIV
Boxed warningYesYes
Pharmacy cost (NADAC)$0.119 per tablet 200 mg tablet$0.607 per tablet 100 mg tablet
Shortage nowA presentation being discontinuedA 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?