6 mins read

Uses

What is Vocabria used for?

Vocabria (cabotegravir) is commonly used for the following conditions.

Vocabria is commonly used short-term to test how well you tolerate the medicine before switching to a longer-lasting injection, like Cabenuva (used for treatment of HIV) or Apretude (used for pre-exposure prophylaxis, also called PrEP). Vocabria may be used if you miss your regular dose of these medicines.

Vocabria may also be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

How does Vocabria work (mechanism of action)?

People with HIV have a virus that spreads in their body and damages the immune system, making it easier for them to get very sick from other infections. Vocabria works with another medicine to help stop the spread of HIV in your body. This helps protect and preserve the immune system and can prevent the virus from being spread to other people.

Vocabria can also help prevent people from getting HIV through sexual contact.  

How is Vocabria supplied (dosage forms)?

Vocabria is available as 30 mg oral tablets that are taken by mouth.

How should I store Vocabria?

Vocabria should be stored at room temperature, below 86 F (30 C). Store in a cool, dry place.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Vocabria?

The most common side effects of Vocabria are listed below. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of these side effects that bother you.

  • Feeling unusually weak or tired
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Drowsiness or dizziness
  • Abnormal dreams
  • Anxiety
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Stomach discomfort, pain, or bloating
  • Infection in the nose or throat, sore throat, or common cold symptoms

There may be other side effects of Vocabria that are not listed here. Contact your healthcare provider if you think you are having a side effect of a medicine. In the U.S., you can report side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or by calling 800-FDA-1088. In Canada, you can report side effects to Health Canada at www.health.gc.ca/medeffect or by calling 866-234-2345.

What are the serious side effects of Vocabria?

While less common, the most serious side effects of Vocabria are described below, along with what to do if they happen.

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Vocabria. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms of liver damage.

  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach or belly pain
  • Fever
  • Weakness or unusual tiredness
  • Itching
  • Loss of appetite
  • Light-colored poop
  • Dark-colored urine (pee)
  • Your skin or the whites of your eyes turning yellowish in color (also called jaundice)

Depression. Depressed mood and suicidal thoughts have been reported in a small number of people Vocabria. If you feel you are about to harm yourself or others, call 911 or call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms.

  • New or increased feelings of anxiety, depression, or other unusual changes in mood or behavior
  • New or increased thoughts of suicide or death
  • Suicide attempt

Severe Allergic Reactions. Vocabria may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop taking Vocabria and get help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction.

  • Breathing problems or wheezing
  • Racing heart
  • Fever or general ill feeling
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue, or throat
  • Trouble swallowing or throat tightness
  • Itching, skin rash, or pale red bumps on the skin called hives
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dizziness, feeling lightheaded, or fainting
  • Stomach cramps
  • Joint pain

Warnings & Precautions

Who should not use Vocabria?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not take Vocabria.

  • Cabotegravir
  • Vocabria
  • Any of the ingredients in the specific product dispensed

Your pharmacist can tell you all of the ingredients in Vocabria.

Positive or Unknown HIV Status. Vocabria should not be used for prevention of HIV in those with unknown or positive HIV status. Your healthcare provider will test you for HIV before starting this medicine.

Drug Interactions. Vocabria should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking Vocabria, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.  See the Interactions section for more details.

What should I know about Vocabria before using it?

Do not take Vocabria unless it has been prescribed to you by a healthcare provider. Take it as prescribed.

Take each dose of Vocabria with food.

Do not share Vocabria with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. It may harm them.

Keep Vocabria out of the reach of children.

Taking antacids or supplements with Vocabria can make it not work as well. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to take antacids and supplements while taking Vocabria.

If you are taking this medicine to prevent HIV (pre-exposure prophylaxis, also called PrEP), it should be part of a bigger plan that includes taking the medicine every day and practicing safe sex, like using condoms, to prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Use condoms and know your partner's HIV status. Keep all appointments for routine HIV tests. This is important because if you get HIV but do not know it, taking Vocabria alone is not enough to treat the virus and could cause the virus to become resistant to treatment. Routine testing helps catch an infection early and helps prevent resistance. Regular testing for STIs is also important.

If you are taking this medicine to treat HIV, Vocabria can help keep the infection under control, but it does not cure it. 

Vocabria does not help protect against or prevent the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), like herpes, gonorrhea, or chlamydia.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using Vocabria?

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your health conditions and any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. This will help them determine if Vocabria is right for you.

In particular, make sure that you discuss any of the following.

Current and Past Health Conditions. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any of the following.

  • Liver problems
  • Kidney problems
  • HIV
  • History of depression

Pregnancy. It is not known if or how Vocabria could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking Vocabria, you can register for the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry by visiting www.apregistry.com. This registry collects safety information about the use of HIV medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if Vocabria passes into breast milk. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. There may be risks with breastfeeding while taking Vocabria and having HIV. If you are taking Vocabria to prevent HIV (for PrEP), your healthcare provider will advise you if you should take it while breastfeeding.

Interactions

Does Vocabria interact with foods or drinks?

There are no known interactions between Vocabria and foods or drinks.

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Vocabria. 

Does Vocabria interact with other medicines (drug interactions)?

Always tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using.

In particular, make sure that you discuss if you are using any of the following before taking Vocabria.

  • A medicine used to treat seizures, such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, or phenytoin
  • Rifampin (Rifadin) or rifapentine (Priftin), which is a medicine commonly used to treat an infection called tuberculosis
  • Rifabutin (Mycobutin), which is a medicine used to prevent Mycobacterium avium complex disease
  • An antacid or supplement containing calcium, aluminum, or magnesium

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Vocabria. Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines that you take or have recently taken.

This may not be a complete list of medicines that can interact with Vocabria. Always check with your healthcare provider.

Does interact with other drugs you are taking?

Enter your medication into the WebMD interaction checker

Overdose/Missed Dose

What should I do if I accidentally use too much Vocabria?

If you or someone else has used too much Vocabria, get medical help right away, call 911, or contact a Poison Control center at 800-222-1222.

What should I do if I miss a dose of Vocabria?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and only take the next dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

Missing doses of Vocabria can cause it to not work as well over time. So it is very important not to miss or skip doses.

Look up another drug