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Uses

What is Apretude used for?

Apretude (cabotegravir injection) is commonly used to prevent HIV through sexual contact (pre-exposure prophylaxis, also called PrEP).

Learn more about Apretude for HIV Pre-Exposure Prevention (PrEP).

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

How does Apretude work (mechanism of action)?

HIV can be spread from one person to another through sexual contact. Apretude works by blocking the virus that causes HIV from making copies of itself in the body. This helps to stop the virus from spreading and lowers the chance of getting HIV.

How is Apretude supplied (dosage forms)?

Apretude is available in an injectable form that is given by a healthcare provider.

How should I store Apretude?

Apretude is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. You will not store it at home.

Side Effects

What are the most common side effects of Apretude?

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

  • Pain, itching, swelling, or redness near the injection site
  • Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Fever
  • Tiredness
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Drowsiness or dizziness 
  • Gas
  • Stomach pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle aches or back pain 
  • Infection in the nose or throat, sore throat, or common cold symptoms 

There may be other side effects of Apretude 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 Apretude?

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

Liver Damage. Liver damage, also called hepatotoxicity, can happen when taking Apretude. 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 Apretude. 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. Apretude may cause allergic reactions, which can be serious. Stop using Apretude 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 Apretude?

Allergies to Ingredients. People who are allergic to any of the following should not use Apretude.

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

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

Positive or Unknown HIV Status. Apretude 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. Apretude should not be taken while you are using certain other medicines. Before taking Apretude, 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 Apretude before using it?

Apretude (long-acting cabotegravir injection) and Vocabria (cabotegravir tablets) have the same active medicine. Your healthcare provider may have you take Vocabria by mouth for a month before you start the injection. This will allow you to see how you tolerate the medicine.

Apretude is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. 

This medicine is injected into the muscle of your buttock. 

Although using Apretude helps prevent getting HIV through sexual contact, (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, using Apretude 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. 

Apretude 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 Apretude?

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 Apretude 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 Apretude could affect pregnancy or harm an unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you are or plan to become pregnant. Apretude can remain in the body for up to 12 months or longer after your last dose. If you become pregnant while using Apretude or after using it, you can register for the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry by visiting www.apregistry.com. This registry collects safety information about the use of antiretroviral medicines during pregnancy.

Breastfeeding. It is not known if Apretude passes into breast milk. Apretude can remain in the body for up to 12 months or longer after your last dose. Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. 

How can I get more information about Apretude?

For more information about Apretude, you can visit the manufacturer’s website at www.apretude.com or call them at 877‑844‑8872.

Interactions

Does Apretude interact with foods or drinks?

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

It is unknown if drinking alcohol will affect Apretude. 

Does Apretude 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 Apretude.

  • 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

Some other medicines may alter the blood levels of Apretude. 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 Apretude. 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 Apretude?

If you or someone else has used too much Apretude, 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 Apretude?

Apretude is usually given by a healthcare provider in a hospital or clinic. Your healthcare provider will make sure you are receiving Apretude as scheduled.

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

If you miss an appointment to get your Apretude dose, call to make another appointment as soon as possible. 

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