How Much Is Isentress Without Insurance?
The cost of Isentress can be over $2,000 per month without insurance. Here’s what can affect the cost and how to save on your prescription.
Isentress
Used for HIV Treatment
Used for HIV Treatment
Isentress (raltegravir) is used treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adults and children. It's a type of HIV medication called an integrase inhibitor. Isentress (raltegravir) comes as regular tablets, chewable tablets, and granules for oral suspension. Depending on your dose, you take it by mouth once or twice a day. Side effects include headache, trouble sleeping, and nausea. Isentress (raltegravir) is taken with other HIV medications as part of a full treatment plan.
What is Isentress (raltegravir)?
What is Isentress (raltegravir) used for?
- Treatment of HIV
How Isentress (raltegravir) works
Isentress (raltegravir) is an integrase inhibitor. It works by blocking integrase, an HIV protein that the virus uses to combine its genetic material with your own in your immune cells. By blocking this protein, HIV can't make more copies of itself. This helps strop the virus from growing and spreading in the body.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Isentress, Isentress HD |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | HIV ARV |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
More on Isentress (raltegravir) essentials
Side effects of Isentress (raltegravir)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Headache (4%)
- Trouble sleeping (4%)
- Nausea (3%)
Less Common Side Effects
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Higher liver enzyme levels
Note: Side effects were reported by adults new to HIV treatment who were taking Isentress (raltegravir) film-coated tablets.
Isentress (raltegravir) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe skin reaction: rash, hives, peeling skin, blisters, mouth sores, feeling unwell, muscle or joint aches
- Severe allergic reaction: rash, swelling of the face or lips, swelling around the eyes, trouble breathing
- Severe muscle damage: severe muscle pain, weakness, brownish-red urine
The following Isentress (raltegravir) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common or rare
Blood in the urine
burning or stinging of the skin
dark urine
decreased frequency or amount of urine
fast heartbeat
hoarseness
increased thirst
irritation
joint pain, stiffness, or swelling
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
pain in the groin or genitals
painful blisters on the trunk of the body
painful cold sores or blisters on the lips, nose, eyes, or genitals
redness of the skin
sharp back pain just below the ribs
swelling of the eyelids, face, lips, hands, lower legs, or feet
tightness in the chest
trouble breathing or swallowing
unusual tiredness or weakness
upper right stomach pain
vomiting
yellow eyes and skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Dizziness
trouble sleeping
Less common or rare
Belching
indigestion
lack or loss of strength
stomach discomfort, upset, or tenderness
thoughts of killing oneself or changes in behavior
Incidence not known
Delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness
fear or nervousness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Get your GoodRx coupon
N/A
GoodRx discount
$70.19
Pros and cons of Isentress (raltegravir)
Pros
- Can take with or without food
- Approved for both adults and children
- Available as chewable tablets and an oral suspension for young children
- Often causes few side effects
Cons
- Must take with other HIV medications
- Not a first-choice option for HIV for most people new to treatment according to clinical guidelines
- Might not be a good option for people at risk of muscle damage or rhabdomyolysis (severe muscle breakdown)
- Can interact with certain antacids
Pharmacist tips for Isentress (raltegravir)
- You can take Isentress (raltegravir) with or without food.
- Make sure to take Isentress (raltegravir) exactly as your prescriber tells you to. Depending on the form and dose of the medication you take, it's either taken once or twice a day. Ask your prescriber or pharmacist if you're not sure how often to take Isentress (raltegravir).
- Choose a time that works well for you and take Isentress (raltegravir) at the same time every day. Making it a part of your daily routine can help you remember to take it. It also helps keep a steady amount of medication in your body. It's important not to miss doses because it can make HIV harder to treat and cause the virus to become resistant to medications.
- For Isentress (raltegravir) or Isentress HD (raltegravir) film-coated tablets: Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water.
- For Isentress (raltegravir) chewable tablets: You can either chew them or swallow them whole with a glass of water. You can also crush the 25 mg chewable tablet — place it into a cup, add 5 mL of liquid, let it dissolve, crush what's left, and then take the mixture right after preparing.
- For Isentress (raltegravir) granules for oral suspension: Follow the instructions for mixing the granules with water. Gently swirl the mixture for 45 seconds with the cup lid on; don't shake it. Use the right oral syringe to measure the prescribed dose and give it within 30 minutes of mixing. Place the tip of the syringe against the inside of the cheek and slowly push the plunger. Pour any leftover mixture into the trash and hand wash the supplies with water and dish soap.
- Talk to your prescriber if you want to switch to a different form of Isentress (raltegravir). Each form has different dosage, and they can't easily be switched with one another. Your prescriber can help make sure it's the right choice and that the switch happens safely.
- Avoid antacids that contain aluminum or magnesium, such as Mylanta. If you take Isentress HD (raltegravir) 600 mg tablets, also avoid antacids with calcium carbonate like Tums. They can lower the amount of Isentress (raltegravir) that your body absorbs. This can make it work less well. Talk to a healthcare professional about safe options if you need something for an upset stomach during treatment.
- Talk with your prescriber about whether it's safe for you to drink alcohol while taking Isentress (raltegravir). Alcohol can make some side effects, like nausea and dizziness, worse.
- If you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant: Tell your prescriber. Studies haven't found a higher risk of birth defects in babies born to people who took Isentress (raltegravir) during pregnancy. But your prescriber will help find the safest treatment option for you. It's important to treat HIV during pregnancy to help lower the chance of passing the virus to the baby.
- If you plan to breastfeed: Talk to your prescriber or a lactation consultant about safe feeding options. There isn't enough information to know if it's safe to breastfeed while taking Isentress (raltegravir). But HIV can be passed to your baby through breast milk.
Risks and warnings for Isentress (raltegravir)
Isentress (raltegravir) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Severe skin reactions and allergic reactions
Some people taking Isentress (raltegravir) have had severe and potentially life-threatening skin reactions. This can include Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS). Stop taking Isentress (raltegravir) and get medical help right away if you have a severe rash or a rash with fever, blisters, peeling skin, or mouth sores.
It's also possible to have a serious allergic reaction to Isentress (raltegravir). Call 911 right away if you have hives, swelling in the face, or trouble breathing.
Overactive immune system
- Risk factors: Current untreated infection
Taking HIV medications like Isentress (raltegravir) can sometimes cause a strong immune response called immune reconstitution syndrome. This can happen when your immune system gets stronger after starting treatment. Your body can start fighting infections it couldn't defend against before. This can cause a lot of inflammation in the body.
Rarely, your immune system can become so strong that it starts to attack healthy parts of your body. This can lead to certain autoimmune problems, sometimes months after starting Isentress (raltegravir).
Call your prescriber if you have a fever, trouble breathing, or cough after you start Isentress (raltegravir). Also tell them about any new and unusual health changes. Your care team can check your symptoms and help manage them if needed.
Possible muscle damage
- Risk factors: History of muscle pain | History of rhabdomyolysis | Taking other medications that can cause muscle pain or muscle damage, like statins
Some adults taking Isentress (raltegravir) film-coated tablets have had muscle pain. Others had possible signs of muscle damage in their blood work (higher creatine kinase levels). Tell your prescriber if you have muscle pain that starts to bother you during treatment.
In rare cases, some of these adults even developed rhabdomyolysis ("rhabdo"). This is severe muscle breakdown. It can be serious and can lead to kidney damage. Get medical help right away if you have severe muscle pain, muscle weakness, or dark brown or reddish urine while taking Isentress (raltegravir).
Chewable tablets not recommended for people with phenylketonuria (PKU)
Isentress (raltegravir) chewable tablets contains phenylalanine. This ingredient is found in the artificial sweetener aspartame. It can be harmful for people with a genetic condition called phenylketonuria (PKU). If you have PKU, talk to your prescriber about other forms of Isentress (raltegravir) that might be safer for you.
Isentress (raltegravir) dosage
The average cost for 60 tablets of 400mg of of Isentress (raltegravir) is $2,079.99 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 17.27% off the average retail price of $2,514.32.
Interactions between Isentress (raltegravir) and other drugs
Isentress (raltegravir) may interact with certain medications or supplements. Always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any other medications or supplements (including prescribed and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, and dietary or herbal supplements) that you are currently taking. The list below does not include all possible drug interactions with Isentress (raltegravir). Please note that only the generic name of each medication is listed below.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Aluminum
- Aluminum Carbonate, Basic
- Aluminum Hydroxide
- Aluminum Phosphate
- Amprenavir
- Cabotegravir
- Calcium
- Dihydroxyaluminum Aminoacetate
- Dihydroxyaluminum Sodium Carbonate
- Fosamprenavir
- Iron
- Magaldrate
- Magnesium
- Magnesium Carbonate
- Magnesium Hydroxide
- Magnesium Oxide
- Magnesium Trisilicate
- Orlistat
- Sucralfate
- Zinc
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Isentress (raltegravir) cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Isentress (brand)
$70.19
What are alternatives to Isentress (raltegravir)?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Isentress (raltegravir). Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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