- If you are allergic to raltegravir or to any of the other ingredients in this medicine (listed in section 6).
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Isentress.
Remember that Isentress is not a cure for HIV infection. This means that you may keep getting infections or other illnesses associated with HIV. You should keep seeing your doctor regularly while taking this medicine.
Mental health problems
Tell your doctor if you have a history of depression or psychiatric illness. Depression, including suicidal thoughts and behaviours, has been reported in some patients taking this medicine, particularly in patients with a prior history of depression or psychiatric illness.
Bone problems
Some patients taking combination anti-retroviral therapy may develop a bone disease called osteonecrosis (death of bone tissue caused by loss of blood supply to the bone). The length of combination anti-retroviral therapy, corticosteroid use, alcohol consumption, severe reduction of the activity of the immune system, higher body mass index, among others, may be some of the many risk factors for developing this disease. Signs of osteonecrosis are joint stiffness, aches and pains (especially of the hip, knee and shoulder) and difficulty in movement. If you notice any of these symptoms, please inform your doctor.
Liver problems
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you have had problems with your liver before, including hepatitis B or C. Your doctor may evaluate how severe your liver disease is before deciding if you can take this medicine.
Infections
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately if you notice any symptoms of infection, such as fever, and/or feeling unwell. In some patients with advanced HIV infection and a history of opportunistic infection, signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections may occur soon after anti-HIV treatment is started. It is believed that these symptoms are due to an improvement in the body’s immune response, enabling the body to fight infections that may have been present with no obvious symptoms.
In addition to the opportunistic infections, autoimmune disorders (a condition that occurs when the immune system attacks healthy body tissue) may also occur after you start taking medicines for the treatment of your HIV infection. Autoimmune disorders may occur many months after the start of treatment. If you notice any symptoms of infection or other symptoms such as muscle weakness, weakness beginning in the hands and feet and moving up towards the trunk of the body, palpitations, tremor or hyperactivity, please inform your doctor immediately to seek necessary treatment.
Muscle problems
Contact your doctor, pharmacist or nurse immediately if you experience unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking this medicine.
Skin problems
Contact your doctor promptly if you develop a rash. Severe and life-threatening skin reactions and allergic reactions have been reported in some patients taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines with or without a prescription.
Isentress might interact with other medicines.
Tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are taking, have recently taken or might take:
- antacids (an agent that counteracts or neutralises the acid in the stomach to relieve indigestion and heartburn). It is not recommended to take Isentress with certain antacids (those containing aluminium and/or magnesium). Talk to your doctor about other antacids you can take.
- iron salts (to treat and prevent iron deficiency or anaemia). You should wait at least two hours between taking iron salts and taking Isentress, as these medicines may reduce Isentress efficacy.
- rifampicin (a medicine used to treat some infections such as tuberculosis), as it may decrease your levels of Isentress. Your doctor may consider increasing your dose of Isentress if you are taking rifampicin.
See section 3.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
- Isentress chewable tablets are not recommended in pregnancy because they have not been studied in pregnant women.
- Breast-feeding is not recommended in women living with HIV because HIV infection can be passed on to the baby in breast milk.
- If you are breast-feeding, or thinking about breast-feeding, you should discuss it with your doctor as soon as possible.
Ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse for advice before taking any medicine if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Do not operate machines, drive or cycle if you feel dizzy after taking this medicine.
Isentress 25 mg chewable tablet
This medicine contains fructose up to 0.54 mg in each tablet. Fructose may damage teeth.
This medicine contains sorbitol (E 420) up to 1.5 mg in each tablet.
This medicine contains up to 3.5 mg of sucrose in each 25 mg chewable tablet.
Sucrose may be harmful to the teeth.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains up to 0.47 mg aspartame (E 951) in each 25 mg chewable tablet which is equivalent to up to 0.05 mg phenylalanine. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine builds up because the body cannot remove it properly.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Isentress 100 mg chewable tablet
This medicine contains fructose up to 1.07 mg in each tablet. Fructose may damage teeth.
This medicine contains sorbitol (E 420) up to 2.9 mg in each tablet.
This medicine contains up to 7 mg of sucrose in each 100 mg chewable tablet.
Sucrose may be harmful to the teeth.
If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, talk to your doctor before taking this medicine.
This medicine contains up to 0.93 mg aspartame (E 951) in each 100 mg chewable tablet which is equivalent to up to 0.10 mg phenylalanine. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine builds up because the body cannot remove it properly.
This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse has told you. You should check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure. Isentress must be used in combination with other medicines for HIV.
The 100 mg chewable tablet can be split into equal halves. However, breaking the tablets should be avoided whenever possible.
Dose for children of 2 through 11 years of age
The doctor will work out the right dose of the chewable tablet based on the age and weight of the child. This dose must not exceed 300 mg twice a day. The doctor will tell you how many chewable tablets the child must take.
Isentress is also available in a 400 mg tablet, a 600 mg tablet and in granules for oral suspension. Do not switch between the chewable tablet, granules for oral suspension, 600 mg tablet or 400 mg tablet without first talking with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Children should keep scheduled doctor’s visits because their Isentress dosage should be adjusted as they get older, grow or gain weight. Their doctor may also want to prescribe the 400 mg tablet when they are able to swallow a tablet.
You can take this medicine with or without food or drink.
Do not take more tablets than the doctor recommends. If you do take too many tablets, contact your doctor.
- If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember it.
- However, if it is time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
It is important that you take Isentress exactly as your doctor has instructed. Do not change the dose or stop taking this medicine without first talking with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. Do not stop taking it because:
- It is very important to take all your HIV medicines as prescribed and at the right times of day. This can help your medicines work better. It also lowers the chance that your medicines will stop being able to fight HIV (also called "drug resistance").
- When your supply of Isentress starts to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacy. This is because it is very important not to be without the medicine, even for a short time. During a short break in taking the medicine the amount of virus in your blood may increase. This may mean that the HIV virus will develop resistance to Isentress and become harder to treat.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Serious side effects – these are uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
See a doctor immediately, if you notice any of the following:
- herpes infections including shingles
- anaemia including due to low iron
- signs and symptoms of infection or inflammation
- mental disorder
- suicide intention or attempt
- stomach inflammation
- inflammation of liver
- liver failure
- allergic rash
- certain kinds of kidney problems
- drug ingestion in quantities greater than recommended
See a doctor immediately, if you notice any of the side effects above.
Common: the following may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- decreased appetite
- trouble sleeping; abnormal dreams; nightmare; abnormal behaviour; feelings of deep sadness and unworthiness
- feeling dizzy; headache
- spinning sensation
- bloating; abdominal pain; diarrhoea; excessive gas in the stomach or bowel; feeling sick; vomiting; indigestion; belching
- certain kinds of rash (more often when used in combination with darunavir)
- tiredness, unusual tiredness or weakness; fever
- increased liver blood tests; abnormal white blood cells; increased fat levels in blood; increased level of enzyme from salivary glands or pancreas
Uncommon: the following may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- infection of the hair roots; influenza; skin infection due to virus; vomiting or diarrhoea due to an infectious agent; upper respiratory tract infection; lymph node abscess
- wart
- lymph node pain; low count of white blood cells that fight infection; swollen glands in the neck, armpit and groin
- allergic reaction
- increased appetite; diabetes; increased blood cholesterol and lipids; high sugar levels in the blood; excessive thirst; severe weight loss; high levels of fat (such as cholesterol and triglycerides) in the blood; body fat disorder
- feeling anxious; feeling of confusion; depressed mood; mood changes; panic attack
- loss of memory; pain in the hand due to nerve compression; disturbance in attention; dizziness with rapid changes in posture; abnormal taste; increased sleepiness; lack of energy; forgetfulness; migraine headache; loss of feeling, numbness or weakness of the arms and/or legs; tingling; sleepiness; tension headache; tremors; poor quality sleep
- visual disturbance
- buzzing, hissing, whistling, ringing or other persistent noise in the ears
- palpitations; slow heart rates; fast or irregular heart beats
- hot flush; high blood pressure
- harsh, raspy, or strained voice; nosebleed; nasal congestion
- abdominal pain upper; rectal discomfort; constipation; dry mouth; heartburn; pain when swallowing; inflammation of the pancreas; ulcer or sore in stomach or upper intestine; bleeding at anus; stomach discomfort; inflammation of the gums; swollen, red sore tongue
- accumulation of fat in the liver
- acne; unusual hair loss or thinning; redness of skin; unusual distribution of fat on the body, this may include loss of fat from legs, arms, and face, and increase in abdomen fat; excessive sweating; night sweats; thickening and itching of the skin due to repeated scratching; skin lesion; dry skin
- joint pain; painful joint disease; back pain; pain in bone/muscle; muscle tenderness or weakness; neck pain; pain in arms or legs; inflammation of the tendons; decrease in the amount of minerals in the bone
- kidney stones; urination at night; kidney cyst
- erectile dysfunction; breast enlargement in men; menopausal symptoms
- chest discomfort; chills; swelling of face; feeling jittery; generally feeling unwell; neck mass; swelling of hands, ankles or feet; pain
- decreased white blood cell count; decreased count of platelets in blood (a kind of cell that helps blood clot); blood test showing reduced kidney function; high blood sugar level; increased muscle enzyme in blood; sugar present in urine; red blood cells present in urine; weight gain; increase in waist size; decreased blood protein (albumin); increase in time for blood to clot
Additional side effects in children and adolescents
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
The active substance is raltegravir.
25 mg chewable tablets:
Each chewable tablet contains 25 mg of raltegravir (as potassium).
The other ingredients are: hydroxypropyl cellulose, sucralose, saccharin sodium, sodium citrate dihydrate, mannitol (E 421), yellow iron oxide, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, sorbitol (E 420), fructose, natural and artificial flavours (orange, banana, and masking), aspartame (E 951), sucrose, crospovidone Type A, magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, ethylcellulose 20 cP, ammonium hydroxide, medium chain triglycerides, oleic acid, hypromellose 2910/6cP and macrogol/PEG 400.
100 mg chewable tablets:
Each chewable tablet contains 100 mg of raltegravir (as potassium).
The other ingredients are: hydroxypropyl cellulose, sucralose, saccharin sodium , sodium citrate dihydrate, mannitol (E 421), red iron oxide, yellow iron oxide, monoammonium glycyrrhizinate, sorbitol (E 420), fructose, natural and artificial flavours (orange, banana, and masking), aspartame (E 951), sucrose, crospovidone Type A, magnesium stearate, sodium stearyl fumarate, ethylcellulose 20 cP, ammonium hydroxide, medium chain triglycerides, oleic acid, hypromellose 2910/6cP, and macrogol/PEG 400.
Isentress 25 mg chewable tablets:
The orange-banana flavoured chewable tablet is round and pale yellow, marked with the MSD corporate logo on one side and “473” on the other side.
One pack size is available: 1 bottle with 60 tablets. The bottle contains desiccant.
Isentress 100 mg chewable tablets:
The orange-banana flavoured chewable tablet is oval-shaped, pale orange coloured, scored on both sides with the MSD corporate logo and "477" on one side and without inscription on the other side.
One pack size is available: 1 bottle with 60 tablets. The bottle contains desiccant.
Marketing Authorisation Holder:
Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Limited
120 Moorgate
London
EC2M 6UR
United Kingdom
Manufacturer:
Merck Sharp & Dohme B.V.
Waarderweg 39
2031 BN Haarlem
The Netherlands
For any information about this medicine, please contact:
Merck Sharp & Dohme (UK) Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 208 154 8000
© 2022 Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA and its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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