ISENTRESS is a prescription HIV-1 medicine used with other HIV medicines to treat adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
The use of other medicines active against HIV-1 in combination with ISENTRESS may increase your ability to fight HIV.
ISENTRESS does not cure HIV infection or AIDS.
Patients must stay on continuous HIV therapy to control infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.
Sometimes allergic reactions can affect body organs, like the liver. (cont'd below)
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The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recommends 4 preferred HIV therapies for people who are beginning treatment for the first time and who are not pregnant. ISENTRESS plus Truvada (tenofovir/emtricitabine) is 1 of them.a
The other 3 are: Atripla (efavirenz/tenofovir/emtricitabine), a NNRTI (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor)-based therapy; boosted Reyataz (atazanavir/low-dose ritonavir) plus Truvada, a PI (protease inhibitor)-based therapy; and boosted Prezista (darunavir/low-dose ritonavir) plus Truvada, also PI-based. ISENTRESS plus Truvada is an INSTI (integrase strand transfer inhibitor)-based therapy. Epivir (lamivudine) may substitute for Emtriva (emtricitabine) or vice versa.
ISENTRESS is a different kind of HIV therapy known as an integrase inhibitor, used with other HIV medicines, to treat adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
When used with other HIV medicines, ISENTRESS may reduce the amount of HIV in your blood (called "viral load"). ISENTRESS may also help to increase the number of CD4 (T) cells in your blood which help fight off other infections.
Talk to your doctor about ISENTRESS.
ISENTRESS is a prescription HIV-1 medicine used with other HIV medicines to treat adults with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome).
The use of other medicines active against HIV-1 in combination with ISENTRESS may increase your ability to fight HIV.
ISENTRESS does not cure HIV infection or AIDS.
Patients must stay on continuous HIV therapy to control infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses.
Severe, potentially life-threatening, and fatal skin reactions and allergic reactions have been reported in some patients taking ISENTRESS. If you develop a rash with any of the following symptoms, stop using ISENTRESS and contact your doctor right away: fever, generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, muscle or joint aches, blisters or sores in mouth, blisters or peeling of skin, redness or swelling of the eyes, swelling of the mouth or face, problems breathing.
Sometimes allergic reactions can affect body organs, like the liver. Contact your doctor right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark or tea-colored urine, pale-colored stools/bowel movements, nausea/vomiting, loss of appetite, pain, aching or tenderness on the right side, below the ribs.
Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your doctor right away if you start having new symptoms after starting your HIV medicine.
People taking ISENTRESS may still develop infections or other conditions associated with HIV infections.
The most common side effects of ISENTRESS include: headache, trouble sleeping, nausea, and tiredness. Less common side effects include: weakness, stomach pain, dizziness, depression, and suicidal thoughts and actions.
Tell your doctor right away if you get unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness while taking ISENTRESS. This may be a sign of a rare but serious muscle problem that can lead to kidney problems.
Rash occurred more often in patients taking ISENTRESS and darunavir/ritonavir (Prezista) together, than with either drug separately, but was generally mild.
Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if ISENTRESS can harm your unborn baby. Also tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV because of the risk of passing HIV to your baby.
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription medicines like rifampin (a medicine used to treat infections such as tuberculosis), non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please read the Patient Information for ISENTRESS and discuss it with your doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.
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