Drug Action
Raltegravir is an inhibitor of HIV integrase.
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Drug reference
Raltegravir is an inhibitor of HIV integrase.
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HIV-1 infection (initiated by a specialist) ▶BY MOUTH USING TABLETS ▶Adult: 400 mg twice daily, alternatively 1200 mg once daily, once daily dosing for use in patients who are treatment naive or virologically suppressed on an initial regimen of 400 mg twice daily—use 600 mg tablets only
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Pre-term neonates—no information available
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Psychiatric illness (may exacerbate underlying illness including depression). risk factors for myopathy. risk factors for rhabdomyolysis
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Dispense raltegravir chewable tablets in original container (contains desiccant).
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Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) decisions SMC No. 613/10 The Scottish Medicines Consortium has advised (May 2010) that raltegravir (Isentress ®) is accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of HIV-1 infection when non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or protease inhibitors cannot be used because of intolerance, drug interactions, or resistance. SMC No. 1280/17 The Scottish Medicines Consortium has advised (November 2017) that raltegravir 600 mg film-coated tablets (Isentress ®) are accepted for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults and paediatric patients weighing at least 40 kg when non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors or protease inhibitors cannot be used because of intolerance, drug interactions, or resistance.
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→Appendix 1: raltegravir
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▶Common or very common Akathisia. appetite abnormal. asthenia. behaviour abnormal. depression. diarrhoea. dizziness. fever. gastrointestinal discomfort. gastrointestinal disorders. headaches. nausea. skin reactions. sleep disorders. vertigo. vomiting ▶Uncommon Alopecia. anaemia. anxiety. arrhythmias. arthralgia. arthritis. body fat disorder. burping. cachexia. chest discomfort. chills. cognitive disorder. concentration impaired. confusion. constipation. diabetes mellitus. drowsiness. dry mouth. dyslipidaemia. dysphonia. erectile dysfunction. feeling jittery. glossitis. gynaecomastia. haemorrhage. hepatic disorders. hot flush. hyperglycaemia. hypersensitivity. hypertension. immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. increased risk of infection. lipodystrophy. lymph node abscess. lymphatic abnormalities. malaise. memory loss. menopausal symptoms. mood altered. myalgia. myopathy . nasal congestion. nephritis. nephrolithiasis. nerve disorders. neutropenia. nocturia. odynophagia. oedema. osteopenia. pain. palpitations. pancreatitis acute. polydipsia. psychiatric disorder. renal cyst. renal impairment. sensation abnormal. severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). skin papilloma. submandibular mass. suicidal tendencies. sweat changes. taste altered. tendinitis. thrombocytopenia. tinnitus. tremor. visual impairment. weight increased ▶Frequency not known Osteonecrosis SIDE-EFFECTS, FURTHER INFORMATION Rash occurs commonly. Discontinue if severe rash or rash accompanied by fever, malaise, arthralgia, myalgia, blistering, mouth ulceration, conjunctivitis, angioedema, hepatitis, or eosinophilia.
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Manufacturer advises avoid—toxicity in animal studies.
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Manufacturer advises caution in severe impairment (no information available), and in patients with chronic hepatitis B or C (consider interrupting or discontinuing treatment if impairment worsens; increased risk of hepatic side-effects).
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There can be variation in the licensing of different medicines containing the same drug. Tablet CAUTIONARY AND ADVISORY LABELS 25 ▶Isentress (Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd) Raltegravir 400 mg Isentress 400mg tablets | 60 tablet P £471.41 DT = £471.41 Raltegravir 600 mg Isentress 600mg tablets | 60 tablet P £471.41 DT = £471.41 ANTIVIRALS › NON-NUCLEOSIDE REVERSE TRANSCRIPTASE INHIBITORS
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400 mg twice daily, alternatively 1200 mg once
First-line fragment. Read the complete Indications and Dose section above.
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