Elvitegravir (Oral)

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Jun 1, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Vitekta

Pharmacologic Class: Integrase Inhibitor

Uses for elvitegravir

Elvitegravir is used in combination with ritonavir and another HIV medicine (eg, atazanavir, darunavir, fosamprenavir, lopinavir, tipranavir) to treat infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HIV is the virus that causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Elvitegravir is used in patients who are already taking or have received HIV medicines in the past.

Elvitegravir will not cure or prevent HIV infection or AIDS, however, it helps keep HIV from reproducing and appears to slow down the destruction of the immune system. This may help delay the development of problems that usually result from AIDS or HIV disease. Elvitegravir will not keep you from spreading HIV to other people. People who receive elvitegravir may continue to have some of the problems usually related to AIDS or HIV disease.

Elvitegravir is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using elvitegravir

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For elvitegravir, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to elvitegravir or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of elvitegravir in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of elvitegravir in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems, which may require caution for patients receiving elvitegravir.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

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 elvitegravir, 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 elvitegravir with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Carbamazepine
• Fosphenytoin
• Phenobarbital
• Phenytoin
• Primidone
• Rifampin
• St John's Wort

Using el...