Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking Raltegravir. Remember that Raltegravir 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.
Raltegravir 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 neutralizes the acid in the stomach to relieve indigestion and heartburn).
- iron salts (to treat and prevent iron deficiency or anemia). You should wait at least two hours between taking iron salts and taking Raltegravir, as these medicines may reduce Raltegravir efficacy.
- atazanavir (an antiretroviral medication)
- rifampicin (a medicine used to treat some infections such as tuberculosis)
- tipranavir/ritonavir (antiretroviral medicines)
Keep a list of all your medicines to show your doctor and pharmacist.
- You can ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with Raltegravir.
- Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your doctor. Your doctor can tell you if it is safe to take Raltegravir with other medicines.