Raltegravir
2 medicines
Raltegravir is an HIV integrase inhibitor always used together with other antiretroviral medicines; it can rarely cause severe muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis).
Key facts
- Raltegravir is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor. It blocks the enzyme HIV uses to insert its genetic material into your cells, stopping the virus from multiplying.
- It is always taken as part of a combination regimen with other antiretroviral medicines, never alone; using it by itself lets the virus develop resistance.
- Rarely, raltegravir causes myopathy or rhabdomyolysis, severe muscle breakdown that can damage the kidneys. Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness needs prompt medical review.
- Seek urgent care for muscle pain with dark urine, or any sign of a severe skin reaction such as blistering or peeling skin.
What raltegravir treats
Raltegravir treats HIV-1 infection in adults and children, always combined with other antiretroviral drugs as part of a full treatment regimen. It lowers viral load, helps the immune system recover, and, when a pregnant person's virus is well controlled, reduces the risk of passing HIV to the baby.
How raltegravir works
HIV relies on an enzyme called integrase to splice its own genetic code into the DNA of the cells it infects, a step the virus needs to multiply. Raltegravir binds to integrase and blocks this insertion, halting the replication cycle at that point. Because HIV can become resistant to any single mechanism, raltegravir is always paired with drugs that attack the virus at other stages.
Before you take it
- Never take raltegravir as your only HIV medicine; it must be part of a combination regimen.
- Tell your prescriber about unexplained muscle pain, weakness, or a personal or family history of muscle disorders, since these raise the risk of myopathy.
- Mention rifampin or other strong enzyme-inducing medicines, since they can lower raltegravir levels and reduce its effect.
- Tell your prescriber about liver disease, since dosing and monitoring may need adjusting.
Side effects
Common effects include nausea, diarrhoea, headache, fatigue, and mild rash.
Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:
- Unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially with dark urine.
- A severe rash, blistering, or peeling skin, or swelling of the face and throat.
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine suggesting a liver problem.
- Fever with a rash or swollen glands shortly after starting treatment.
Safety essentials
- Always take raltegravir with the rest of your prescribed combination; skipping the other medicines or taking raltegravir alone allows drug-resistant virus to develop.
- Report unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness promptly; rare but serious muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis) needs urgent blood tests and treatment.
- Take every dose as scheduled; missed or irregular dosing also encourages resistance.
This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.