Isentress (Raltegravir) + Prezista (Darunavir)

Isentress (raltegravir) and Prezista (darunavir) are two anti-HIV medications that work well together. Clinical studies have shown that there are no significant changes to the levels of both drugs caused by the combination.

What Is Isentress?

Isentress is simply the brand name of raltegravir. It is an antiretroviral medication used for the treatment of HIV in children and adults [1]. Isentress does not cure HIV but prevents the virus from multiplying. In the body of every HIV-positive patient, an enzyme known as integrase is present. This enzyme is responsible for viral replication and causes the virus to spread throughout. Isentress prevents this process by attacking the enzyme and blocking its actions. Thus, this medication is known as an integrase inhibitor.

It is important to note that Isentress should be used regularly and strictly according to the doctor’s instructions. One may choose to eat before or after using the medication. Isentress is best taken with a glass of water.

What Is Prezista?

Prezista is an antiretroviral medication commonly used in combination with other related drugs to treat HIV [2]. It could also be used as a preventive measure after one has been exposed to the virus.

The active component in Prezista is darunavir, a drug that was officially approved for medical use in 2006. It is commonly used along with other HIV medications such as ritonavir in order to achieve better results. Darunavir belongs to a category of drugs called protease inhibitors [1] and works by blocking the actions of the protease enzyme in the body. This helps prevent the virus from multiplying or spreading.

Prezista should be taken orally with a glass of water. Like any other medication, its use should be strictly guided by the doctor’s instructions. Patients should avoid self-medication or dose skipping at all costs.

Isentress and Prezista Interaction

Isentress and Prezista cause no major interference to each others’ active substances when used simultaneously, thus can be coadministered.

Medical data gathered from HIV patients suggest that combining both darunavir and raltegravir could lead to a decrease in Prezista’s (darunavir) plasma levels [3]. But even so, this change is found to be clinically insignificant and may not require a dosage adjustment.

The interaction between these drugs might vary on an individual basis. What’s more, it might also differ based on the doses of either drugs administered. It’s always necessary to consult a healthcare professional before settling for any treatment regimen with these ARVs.

References

  1. Raltegravir. Aidsinfo.nih.gov.
  2. Darunavir. Medlineplus.gov.
  3. ISENTRESS® (raltegravir). HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION. Revised January 2019. Merck.com.
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