The standard dose of tipranavir (Aptivus) is 500mg plus 200mg ritonavir (Norvir) twice a day. This is equivalent to two 250-mg capsules of tipranavir and two ritonavir capsules twice a day. Tipranavir cannot be combined with any other protease inhibitors.

Tipranavir should be taken with food to improve absorption. The concentration of tipranavir in the blood is increased twofold when the drug is taken with a high-fat meal^[1].

An oral solution of tipranavir is also available for use in adults who cannot swallow capsules.

The formulation of tipranavir used in early trials produced low concentrations of the drug. It was subsequently replaced by a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) formulation. However, average plasma concentrations of tipranavir remained mediocre, so investigators turned to concurrent dosing with low-dose ritonavir, which boosts blood concentrations of tipranavir.