Isentress (Raltegravir)

(℞) Prescription Required

Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Isentress 400mg

Product of Australia
Manufactured by: Merck Sharp & Dohme
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Isentress 400mg
Product of Australia
Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Isentress HD 600mg

Product of Australia
Manufactured by: Merck Sharp & Dohme
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Isentress HD 600mg
Product of Australia
Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Isentress 25mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Merck Sharp & Dohme
*Product image for reference use only.
**Med currently on back order**
Select Quantity
Isentress 25mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Isentress 100mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Merck Sharp & Dohme
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Isentress 100mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Isentress 400mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Merck Sharp & Dohme
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Isentress 400mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Isentress HD 600mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Merck Sharp & Dohme
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Isentress HD 600mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Select your dosage

Isentress (Raltegravir) Dosage and Side Effects

ISENTRESS is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body. ISENTRESS is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). ISENTRESS is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Proper Use of this medication

Take ISENTRESS exactly as your physician has prescribed.

Usual dose:

Take ISENTRESS twice a day, by mouth, with or without food.

ISENTRESS must be used with other anti-HIV medicines.

Do not change your dose, or stop taking ISENTRESS without first talking with your doctor. Do not switch from the 400 mg tablet to the chewable tablets.

Adults and adolescents at least 12 years of age:

Take one 400 mg tablet at a time.

Children 2 to less than 12 years of age:

  • Your child's healthcare provider will tell you how many tablets your child should take based on your child's weight.

  • The 100 mg chewable tablet is scored and can be split into equal halves.

  • Do not take more than 300 mg of the chewable tablet twice a day.

IMPORTANT: Take ISENTRESS exactly as your physician prescribed and at the right times of day because if you don't:

  • The amount of virus (HIV) in your blood may increase if the medicine is stopped for even a short period of time.

  • The virus may develop resistance to ISENTRESS and become harder to treat.

  • Your medicines may stop working to fight HIV.

  • The activity of ISENTRESS may be reduced (due to resistance).

Overdose:

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner (e.g. doctor), hospital emergency department or the regional poison control centre, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed dose:

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule. Do NOT take two tablets of ISENTRESS at the same time. In other words, do NOT take a double dose.

ISENTRESS must be used with other anti-HIV medicines.

Be sure to keep a supply of your anti-HIV medicines.

  • When your ISENTRESS supply starts to run low, get more from your physician or pharmacy.

  • Do not wait until your medicine runs out to get more.

Side Effects

Like all medicines, ISENTRESS can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. In studies, side effects usually were mild and did not cause patients to stop taking ISENTRESS. The side effects reported in patients taking ISENTRESS were similar to side effects in patients treated with a tablet containing no medication (a placebo).

The most common side effects of ISENTRESS include:

  • nausea

  • headache

  • diarrhea

  • fever

  • vomiting

  • fatigue

  • dizziness

  • difficulty sleeping

  • cough

  • rash

  • tiredness

  • upper respiratory tract infection

  • inflammation of the nasal passages and throat

  • bronchitis

  • back pain

  • depression

Additionally, while the medicine has been on the market, some further reactions have occurred:

  • Depression and suicidal thoughts have been reported. If you develop these feelings, discuss this with your physician.

  • Other side effects that have been reported include low blood platelet count, clumsiness and lack of coordination, rash with or without an increase in some white blood cells, severe skin reaction, liver failure. If you develop any of these reactions, discuss with your physician.

In some patients with advanced HIV infection (AIDS), signs and symptoms of inflammation from opportunistic infections may occur when combination antiretroviral treatment is started. Tell your physician immediately if you notice any symptoms of infection.

Phenylketonuria (PKU). ISENTRESS Chewable Tablets contain phenylalanine as part of the artificial sweetener, aspartame. The artificial sweetener may be harmful to people with PKU.

Contact your physician promptly if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking ISENTRESS.

Contact your physician promptly if you develop a rash. Severe and life-threatening skin reactions and allergic reactions have been reported in some patients taking ISENTRESS.

Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time, or you could develop an autoimmune disease in which your immune system reacts against your own body (e.g. Graves' disease (which affects the thyroid gland), Guillain-Barré syndrome (which affects the nervous system) or polymyositis (which affects the muscles) and it may develop at any time, sometimes months later after the start of HIV therapy). Sometimes symptoms can be severe, so if you develop high temperature (fever), joint or muscle pain, redness, rash, swelling, or fatigue or any new symptoms contact your physician right away.

Tell your physician if you develop any unusual side effect or if any known side effect does not go away or gets worse. For more information, ask your physician or pharmacist.

Warnings and Precautions

BEFORE you use ISENTRESS talk to your physician or pharmacist if:

  • You have any allergies.

  • You take antacids. Certain antacids (those containing aluminum and/or magnesium) are not recommended with ISENTRESS.

  • You have phenylketonuria (PKU). ISENTRESS Chewable Tablets contain phenylalanine as part of the artificial sweetener, aspartame. The artificial sweetener may be harmful to people with PKU.

  • You are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

    • ISENTRESS is not recommended for use during pregnancy. ISENTRESS has not been studied in pregnant women.

    • If you take ISENTRESS while you are pregnant, talk to your physician about how you can be included in the Antiviral Pregnancy Registry.

  • You are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

    • It is recommended that HIV-infected women should not breast-feed their infants. This is because their babies could be infected with HIV through their breast milk.

    • Talk with your physician about the best way to feed your baby.

Other warnings:

Does ISENTRESS lower the chance of passing HIV to other people?

No. ISENTRESS does not reduce the chance of passing HIV to others through sexual contact, sharing needles, or being exposed to your blood.

  • Continue to practice safer sex.

  • Use latex or polyurethane condoms or other barrier methods to lower the chance of sexual contact with any body fluids. This includes semen from a man, vaginal secretions from a woman, or blood.

  • Never re-use, or share needles.

  • Ask your physician if you have any questions about safer sex or how to prevent passing HIV to other people.

What else is there to know

  • ISENTRESS does not cure HIV infection or AIDS.

  • It is very important that you stay under the care of your physician during treatment with ISENTRESS.

Interactions with this medication

Tell your physician about all the medicines you take. Include the following:

  • prescription medicines, including rifampin, which may interact with ISENTRESS

  • non-prescription medicines including antacids. It is not recommended to take ISENTRESS with certain antacids containing aluminum and/or magnesium while others are acceptable (e.g. calcium carbonate, omeprazole, famotidine). If needed, talk to your physician about any other antacids you can take

  • vitamins

  • herbal supplements

Know the medicines you take.

  • Keep a list of your medicines. Show the list to your physician and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

Other related products

Sign up to receive exclusive discounts & offers, medication updates, & health news delivered to your inbox.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Back to top