Finally the great news we have been waiting for is here! Today the FDA approved ABBOTT’s Norvir TABLET formulation. This new formulation is heat-stable and does not require refrigeration like the capsules.
About 1/3 of all HIV positive patients in treatment use Norvir as part of their antiretroviral regimen and this new tablet formulation will allow patients greater flexibility to store their medications and carry them around. Even though the Norvir capsules are stable at room temperature for 30 days after they have been dispensed by the pharmacy, patients can run into problems with storage in hot climates and especially during times of travel.
It is unclear if Norvir tablets will cause fewer side effects that the Norvir capsules, in fact it make cause and increase in gastrointestinal side effects among patients switching from the capsule to the tablet formulation. The new tablet formulation MUST BE TAKEN WITH FOOD, unlike the capsules which can be taken with or without food. The new Norvir tablet formulation will be in 100mg tablets and will hopefully be on Pharmacy shelves in the next 2 to 3 weeks.