raltegravir potassium at a glance
Medicine class
Integrase strand transfer inhibitor
Main role
Combination treatment of HIV-1 in adults and children using an appropriate formulation
Food
Film-coated tablets, chewable tablets and oral suspension may be taken with or without food
Formulations
Film-coated tablets, chewable tablets and oral suspension are not directly interchangeable
What is raltegravir potassium used for?
UK-licensed products are used with other antiretrovirals for HIV-1 infection. Formulation selection considers factors such as age, weight and ability to swallow.
Treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults.
Treatment of HIV-1 infection in children using suitable paediatric formulations.
How does raltegravir potassium work?
HIV integrase inserts viral genetic material into human-cell DNA. Raltegravir blocks this step, reducing production of new infectious virus.
raltegravir potassium preparations and strengths
Chewable tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 25 mg, 100 mg
Oral suspension
Route: Oral
Strengths: 100 mg
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 400 mg, 600 mg
How to take raltegravir potassium
Take raltegravir exactly as labelled and alongside the other prescribed HIV treatments. It may be taken with or without food.
Swallow film-coated tablets whole; do not chew, crush, split or dissolve them.
Do not substitute chewable tablets or oral-suspension granules for film-coated tablets without specialist instruction.
Prepare oral-suspension granules using the supplied equipment and instructions. Use the prepared suspension promptly and discard any remainder.
Keep paediatric appointments, as the appropriate formulation may change as a child grows.
raltegravir potassium side effects
Common or expected effects
- Headache or dizziness
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion or abdominal discomfort
- Reduced appetite
- Difficulty sleeping, abnormal dreams or nightmares
- Tiredness or weakness
- Rash
- Changes in liver, pancreatic or blood-fat test results
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe skin or hypersensitivity reactions, including blistering rash, facial swelling or organ involvement
- Myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, with significant muscle pain or weakness and sometimes dark urine
- Liver inflammation or failure
- Severe depression, suicidal thoughts or behaviour
- Immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome after HIV treatment begins
raltegravir potassium in pregnancy
Contact HIV and maternity specialists promptly if pregnant or planning pregnancy, and do not stop antiretroviral treatment without advice. Pregnancy experience with some raltegravir formulations is reassuring, but the selected high-strength film-coated product is not recommended because pregnancy data for that formulation are lacking.
raltegravir potassium while breastfeeding
UK product information recommends that people living with HIV do not breastfeed because HIV may be transmitted and raltegravir enters breast milk. Formula feeding is considered the safest option. Anyone considering breastfeeding should discuss this early with the specialist HIV maternity team because intensive maternal and infant monitoring is required.
raltegravir potassium interactions
Check prescription medicines, non-prescription products and supplements with the HIV pharmacist, as interaction advice can differ between raltegravir formulations.
Aluminium-, magnesium- or calcium-containing antacids
These can reduce absorption of the selected film-coated product; co-administration is not recommended.
Rifampicin and other strong enzyme inducers, such as phenytoin or phenobarbital
These may lower raltegravir exposure and risk loss of antiviral activity; specialist review is required.
Atazanavir
It can raise raltegravir concentrations; co-administration with the selected film-coated product is not recommended.
Common questions about raltegravir potassium
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is raltegravir potassium used for?
It is used with other antiretrovirals to treat HIV-1 infection.
Does raltegravir potassium cure HIV?
No. It suppresses viral replication when combined with other active HIV treatments, but does not remove HIV from the body.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.