Isentress
Isentress 400mg tablets are raltegravir, an antiviral for HIV-1 infection, taken twice a day as part of a combination treatment plan.
All strengths and pack prices
| Strength | Pack | Price | Per tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 400mg | 60 tablets | $448.80 | $7.48 |
| 400mg | 120 tablets | $874.80 | $7.29 |
- Category
- HIV Management
- Active ingredient
- Raltegravir
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Tablet
- Strengths
- 400mg
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- HIV-1 infection
- Therapeutic Class
- Integrase Inhibitor
- Pharmacological Class
- Antiretroviral
- Minor Side Effects
- Insomnia, Headache
- Moderate Side Effects
- Nausea, Fatigue, Diarrhoea
- Dosage Forms
- Tablet
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Merck
- Onset Time
- 1–2 hours
- Duration
- 12 hours
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature in the original container.
- Drug Interactions
- Rifampin, Antacids
What you will receive
Isentress is the originator brand name, made by Merck. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Isentress.
- The same active ingredient (Raltegravir) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
Which Isentress strengths and pack sizes can I order?
Isentress comes as tablets in 400mg, in packs of 60 or 120. It is generic raltegravir, not the original Isentress. Larger packs cost less per tablet.
How discreet is an Isentress parcel to Hong Kong?
Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free, or the order is refunded. Support answers 24/7 in English and Cantonese by live chat.
What other names is raltegravir sold under?
Isentress is a brand name of raltegravir. Here, raltegravir can be bought online as generic Isentress, and also as Zepdon. These are generics, not the original brand.
How often do I take Isentress?
Twice a day, roughly twelve hours apart, at the same two times each day. Raltegravir can be taken with a meal or between meals. Swallow the 400mg tablet whole rather than splitting, chewing or crushing it.
What happens if I stop taking Isentress?
The amount of HIV in the blood rises again and the virus can become resistant to raltegravir, which narrows the options later. The tablets are taken continuously, including when you feel well and your viral load is low, because HIV stays in the body.
Can I take antacids with Isentress?
Antacids containing aluminium or magnesium cut how much raltegravir the body takes in. Leaving a gap between the antacid and your tablet is the usual way to handle it.
What is the difference between Isentress and Zepdon?
Both are raltegravir 400mg tablets for HIV-1, sold under different brand names. The strength is the same and so is the routine: one tablet twice a day.
Can I take Isentress at night?
You can, as long as the two daily doses stay about twelve hours apart. Raltegravir has no particular time of day attached to it, so many people take one dose in the morning and one in the evening. What matters is that the times stay steady from day to day.
About Isentress
What Isentress does
Isentress is raltegravir, an antiviral used to treat HIV-1 infection. It is never taken on its own: it joins a combination of HIV medicines, and its job is to drive down the amount of virus in the blood. HIV is not cleared from the body, but holding it at very low levels lets the immune system recover and lowers the risk of AIDS and HIV-related illness. The tablets here are 400mg, in packs of 60 or 120.
In practice that means two fixed moments in the day, such as breakfast and bedtime, about twelve hours apart, each with a 400mg tablet swallowed whole and with or without food. Skipped doses give the virus room to multiply again and stop responding to raltegravir, so the routine matters more than the exact hours.
How raltegravir works
Once HIV has entered a cell, its integrase enzyme splices the viral genes into the cell's own DNA. Raltegravir jams that enzyme, so the splice never happens and the cell cannot produce new virus. The target belongs to the virus, not to the body, which keeps the action specific to HIV. Cells that were already infected remain so, and that is why treatment goes on rather than stopping.
Side effects people notice
Headache, trouble sleeping, dizziness, nausea and tiredness are the usual complaints, and they are usually mild. A spreading rash, unexplained muscle aches or weakness, or yellowing of the eyes and skin point to something more serious. As the immune system strengthens it may begin fighting infections that were already in the body, which can bring new or worsening symptoms for a time.
Isentress and Zepdon
Both are raltegravir 400mg tablets for HIV-1, sold under different brand names; the strength and the twice-daily routine are the same. Zepdon is the other raltegravir tablet sold here, and the raltegravir page gathers the ingredient's forms and strengths together.
Sources
- Raltegravir: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine