Drug Database: Cabotegravir

What is cabotegravir?What is cabotegravir?

What is cabotegravir?

Cabotegravir is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is approved as two different dosage forms under two different brand names for the following uses:

• Cabotegravir oral tablet (brand name: Vocabria)
  • For the short-term treatment of HIV infection in adults and adolescents 12 years of age and older who weigh at least 77 lb (35 kg) and who meet certain requirements, as determined by a health care provider. When used for HIV treatment, cabotegravir is always used with the HIV medicine rilpivirine (brand name: Edurant).
  • For short-term PrEP to reduce the risk of HIV infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 lb (35 kg), are HIV negative, and are at risk of getting HIV. Oral cabotegravir for PrEP should always be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms, to reduce the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections. 
• Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (brand name: Apretude)
  • For HIV PrEP to reduce the risk of HIV infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 lb (35 kg), are HIV negative, and are at risk of getting HIV. Long-acting injectable cabotegravir for PrEP should always be used in combination with safer sex practices, such as using condoms, to reduce the risk of getting other sexually transmitted infections.

For more information on the use of cabotegravir in people with HIV, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.

For more information about HIV PrEP, including information on who should consider using PrEP, please read the HIVinfo fact sheet on PrEP.

HIV medicines cannot cure HIV/AIDS, but taking HIV medicines every day helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. When used as treatment, HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission. Whether you are using cabotegravir for HIV prevention or for HIV treatment (in combination with rilpivirine), do not cut down on, skip, or stop taking your HIV medicine(s) unless your health care provider tells you to. 

What should I tell my health care provider before using cabotegravir? What should I tell my health care provider before using cabotegravir? 

What should I tell my health care provider before using cabotegravir?

Before using cabotegravir, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to cabotegravir or any other medicines.
• If you have ever had liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) or hepatitis C virus infection (HCV).
• If you have ever had mental health problems.
• If you have ever had kidney problems.
• If you have any other medical conditions.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of using cabotegravir during pregnancy. Long-acting injectable cabotegravir can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after your last injection. For more information on the use of cabotegravir during pregnancy, please refer to the Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States.
• If you are breast/chestfeeding or plan to breast/chestfeed. For people with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. People with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk.
• If you are using hormone-based birth control (such as pills, implants, or vaginal rings). For more information about using birth control and HIV medicines at the same time, view the HIVinfo HIV and Birth Control infographic.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Cabotegravir may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how cabotegravir works. Using cabotegravir together with certain medicines or products may cause serious side effects.

Before receiving cabotegravir for HIV PrEP, you must get tested to be sure you are HIV negative. Do not use cabotegravir for HIV PrEP unless you are confirmed to be HIV negative.

Before receiving cabotegravir for PrEP, also tell your health care provider:

• If you had a flu-like illness anytime in the month before starting cabotegravir or if you have a flu-like illness at any time while receiving cabotegravir. Flu-like symptoms may be a sign that you could have recently gotten HIV. The flu-like symptoms of a new HIV infection may include: tiredness, fever, nighttime sweating, rash, vomiting, diarrhea, joint or muscle aches, headache, sore throat, or enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin.
• If you think that you were exposed to HIV. Your health care provider may want to do more tests to be sure you are still HIV negative.

While receiving cabotegravir for PrEP, you will get tested for HIV each time you receive a cabotegravir injection or when your health care provider tells you.

How should I use cabotegravir?How should I use cabotegravir?

How should I use cabotegravir?

Cabotegravir comes in the following forms and strengths:

• 30-mg tablets (brand name: Vocabria)
• 600 mg/3 mL single-dose vials of extended-release injectable suspension (brand name: Apretude)

Use cabotegravir according to your health care provider’s instructions. Do not miss a dose of cabotegravir, and do not change your dose or stop using cabotegravir without first talking with your health care provider.

If you take antacid products that contain aluminum or magnesium hydroxide or calcium carbonate, they should be taken at least 2 hours before or 4 hours after you take cabotegravir tablets.

HIV treatment
Before receiving the long-acting injectable regimen of cabotegravir and rilpivirine (brand name: Cabenuva), your health care provider may have you take cabotegravir tablets in combination with rilpivirine tablets for 1 month to assess your tolerance of these medicines. Take a cabotegravir tablet and a rilpivirine tablet by mouth at approximately the same time each day with a meal.

If you plan to miss a scheduled injection of Cabenuva by more than 7 days, call your health care provider right away to discuss your options. Your health care provider may have you take cabotegravir tablets in combination with rilpivirine tablets to replace missed injections.

HIV PrEP
Before receiving your first injection of cabotegravir for HIV PrEP, your health care provider may have you take a cabotegravir tablet one time each day for 1 month to assess your tolerance of cabotegravir. Take cabotegravir tablets by mouth with or without food.

Long-acting injectable cabotegravir for HIV PrEP will be administered by your health care provider. Initially, you will receive an intramuscular (IM) injection of cabotegravir one time each month for the first 2 months. After that, you will receive an IM injection of cabotegravir one time every 2 months.

It is important that you receive cabotegravir for PrEP as scheduled to help reduce the risk of getting HIV infection and developing resistance.

If you plan to miss a scheduled every-2-month injection of long-acting injectable cabotegravir by more than 7 days, call your health care provider right away to discuss your PrEP options. Your health care provider may have you take cabotegravir tablets to replace a missed injection.

Long-acting injectable cabotegravir can stay in your body for 12 months or longer after your last injection. Stay under the care of a healthcare provider while receiving cabotegravir for PrEP and if you stop using cabotegravir for PrEP.

If you stop receiving long-acting injectable cabotegravir, talk to your health care provider about options to reduce the risk of getting HIV infection.

Always use PrEP in combination with condoms and other safe sex practices. 

If you have taken too much cabotegravir, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222 or online) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

For more information on how to use cabotegravir, see the FDA drug labels for Vocabria and Apretude.

What should I do if I forget a dose?What should I do if I forget a dose?

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If you miss a dose of oral cabotegravir, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

If you miss or plan to miss a scheduled injection of long-acting cabotegravir by more than 7 days, contact your health care provider right away to discuss your PrEP options.

What side effects can cabotegravir cause?What side effects can cabotegravir cause?

What side effects can cabotegravir cause?

Cabotegravir may cause side effects. Some side effects of cabotegravir can be serious as noted above. Many side effects from HIV medicines, such as nausea or occasional dizziness, are manageable. See the HIV fact sheet on HIV Medicines and Side Effects for more information.

Other possible side effects of cabotegravir tablets for HIV treatment and/or PrEP include:

• Fatigue
• Headache
• Abnormal dreams
• Anxiety
• Sleep disorders
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Tiredness
• Stomach pain or bloating
• Diarrhea
• Drowsiness
• Weakness

Other possible side effects of long-acting injectable cabotegravir include:

• Injection site reactions, such as pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, bruising, redness, itching, warmth, loss of sensation at the injection site, abscess, and discoloration
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Fever
• Tiredness
• Sleep problems
• Passing gas
• Stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Muscle pain
• Rash
• Loss of appetite
• Drowsiness
• Back pain
• Upper respiratory infection

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of cabotegravir. To learn more about possible side effects of cabotegravir tablets and long-acting injectable cabotegravir, read the drug labels or package inserts for Vocabria or Apretude or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

You can report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should cabotegravir be stored?How should cabotegravir be stored?

How should cabotegravir be stored?

• Store cabotegravir tablets below 86°F (30°C).
• Keep cabotegravir in the container that it came in and keep the container tightly closed.
• Do not use cabotegravir if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
• Throw away cabotegravir that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
• Keep cabotegravir and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about cabotegravir?Where can I find more information about cabotegravir?

Where can I find more information about cabotegravir?

• For more information on the use of cabotegravir in people with HIV, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.
• This Patient Version drug summary is based on the following FDA label(s): Tablet (film-coated) and Kit (injection). The Patient Package Insert includes information for people using cabotegravir.
• The American Hospital Formulary Service (AHFS) Patient Medication Information for cabotegravir and cabotegravir injection available from MedlinePlus. 
• Cabotegravir-related research studies, from ClinicalTrials.gov. (The ClinicalTrials.gov search can be modified so that you can get results that better match your interests.)
• A list of FDA-approved HIV medicines, from HIVinfo.

Manufacturer InformationManufacturer Information

Manufacturer Information

ViiV Healthcare

Main number: 877-844-8872
Patient assistance (ViiV Connect): 844-588-3288

Last Reviewed: February 7, 2024