Raltegravir is marketed under the name Isentress. It is taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.

If you are prescribed the TB drug rifampicin, your dose of raltegravir may be increased to 800mg (two pink tablets) twice daily, as rifampicin can reduce drug levels of raltegravir.

You should not take any supplements that contain calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminium or zinc at the same time as raltegravir as they will reduce its absorption. These supplements should be taken at least four hours before or after raltegravir.

Suicidal thoughts and behaviours, liver failure, kidney failure, allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction.

Loss of appetite, headache, difficulty in sleeping, abnormal dreams, depression, dizziness, vertigo, restlessness, abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, indigestion, rash, weakness, fatigue, fever, raised liver or pancreatic enzymes, raised triglycerides.

An allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction has been reported in some people using raltegravir. This reaction is rare. See your HIV clinic immediately (or A&E if out of hours) if you develop a rash together with any of these symptoms: fever; feeling generally unwell or extremely tired; muscle or joint ache; blistering of the skin; mouth ulcers; swelling of the eyes, lips, mouth or face; breathing difficulties; yellowing of the skin or eyes; dark urine; pale stools; or pain, aching or sensitivity on the right-hand side of the body, below the ribs.

Take with or without food.

The usual adult dose is one pink 400mg tablet taken twice daily or two yellow 600mg tablets taken once a day.