cabotegravir at a glance
Medicine class
HIV integrase strand transfer inhibitor
Licensed role
PrEP for eligible HIV-negative adults and adolescents at increased risk of sexually acquired HIV-1
Available forms
Long-acting injection and tablets used for specific short-term purposes around injection-based PrEP
Essential testing
HIV-negative status must be confirmed before starting and repeatedly during injectable PrEP
Injection administration
Given by a healthcare professional into a buttock muscle
What is cabotegravir used for?
The selected products are licensed for HIV-1 prevention rather than treatment.
Long-acting injectable PrEP alongside safer-sex practices.
Tablets as an optional oral lead-in to assess tolerability before injections.
Tablets as temporary oral PrEP when a planned injection cannot be received.
How does cabotegravir work?
Cabotegravir blocks the action of HIV integrase, interrupting viral replication if exposure occurs and reducing the chance that infection becomes established.
cabotegravir preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 30 mg
Injection
Route: Parenteral
Strengths: 600 mg
How to take cabotegravir
A trained healthcare professional injects it into a buttock muscle. Tablets are swallowed with or without food and may be used to assess tolerability or provide temporary cover around a planned missed injection. Do not stop injectable PrEP without arranging follow-up if HIV risk continues.
Attend all planned appointments and HIV tests.
Tell the clinic early if an injection appointment may be difficult to attend.
Separate oral cabotegravir from mineral-containing antacids as directed.
cabotegravir side effects
Common or expected effects
- Injection-site pain, tenderness, a lump, hardened area, swelling, redness, itching or bruising
- Headache
- Diarrhoea, nausea or abdominal discomfort
- Feeling hot or feverish
- Dizziness, tiredness or muscle aches
- Changes in liver blood-test results
- Insomnia, abnormal dreams, anxiety or depression
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction, including facial or mouth swelling or breathing difficulty
- Severe rash, blistering, skin peeling, mouth sores or eye inflammation
- Possible liver injury, including jaundice, dark urine or marked upper-abdominal pain
- Suicidal thoughts or behaviour
- Painful or worsening injection-site swelling with pus
cabotegravir in pregnancy
Human pregnancy information is limited. Cabotegravir is not recommended during pregnancy unless the expected benefit justifies potential fetal risk. Discuss planned or confirmed pregnancy promptly with the specialist PrEP team; long-acting cabotegravir may remain in the circulation after injections stop.
cabotegravir while breastfeeding
It is not confirmed how much cabotegravir enters human milk. Breastfeeding requires an individual benefit–risk discussion with the specialist team, particularly after long-acting injections because cabotegravir may persist in the body.
cabotegravir interactions
Give the prescriber and pharmacist a complete list of prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal products.
Rifampicin or rifapentine
Strongly lower cabotegravir exposure and must not be used with these products.
Carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin or phenobarbital
May substantially reduce cabotegravir concentrations; combined use is contraindicated.
Common questions about cabotegravir
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why are HIV tests needed while using cabotegravir injections?
Cabotegravir PrEP must only be used when HIV-negative. Undetected infection can delay diagnosis and allow integrase resistance to develop.
Do I have to take tablets before the injection?
Not necessarily. An oral lead-in may be chosen to assess tolerability, or treatment may proceed directly to injections.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.