Key takeaways

  • Cabenuva is a prescription medication used to treat HIV in certain adults and children by reducing the amount of HIV in the body. It is given as an injection by a healthcare professional, either monthly or every other month.
  • Like most drugs, Cabenuva can cause side effects. Examples include include injection site reactions, weight gain, and mood changes such as depression.
  • Cabenuva is not a cure for HIV. It replaces the need for daily oral HIV medications, offering a more convenient injection-based treatment option.

Cabenuva is prescribed to treat HIV in adults and in children ages 12 years and older, in certain situations.

Cabenuva basics

Cabenuva contains two active drugs:

Cabenuva comes as a liquid suspension that’s injected into your muscle by a healthcare professional. It’s not available as a generic.

Cabenuva’s cost per month and cost with insurance may vary from one person to the next. Whether you have health insurance or not, cost may be a factor when you’re considering Cabenuva. What you’ll pay for Cabenuva may depend on several things, such as your treatment plan and the cost of visits to your doctor or healthcare professional.

Here are a few things to consider regarding cost:

  • Comparing pharmacies: The price of Cabenuva may vary depending on which pharmacy you use, so it can help to compare prices across pharmacies to find the lowest cost.
  • Savings program: If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called ViiV Connect may be available.

Like most drugs, Cabenuva may cause mild to serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common ones, but they don’t include all possible side effects.

Keep in mind that side effects of a drug can depend on:

  • your age
  • other health conditions you have
  • other medications you take

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Cabenuva. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Cabenuva and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Mild side effects

Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects Cabenuva can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects of Cabenuva that have been reported include:

Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Cabenuva can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from this drug, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects of Cabenuva that have been reported include:

Allergic reaction

For some people, Cabenuva can cause an allergic reaction.

Allergic reactions weren’t reported during studies of Cabenuva, but they have been reported after the drug was approved.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

What might help

If you have mild symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may suggest a treatment to manage your symptoms and can determine whether you should continue Cabenuva treatment.

If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling, fever, or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

If your doctor confirms you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Cabenuva, they may have you switch to a different treatment.

Cabenuva is a brand-name medication prescribed for HIV. It can be prescribed for use in adults and in children who are ages 12 years or older and weigh at least 35 kilograms (about 77 pounds).

HIV is a virus that attacks your immune system. It can be contracted through bodily fluids, including blood, semen, breast milk, and vaginal or rectal fluids.

Without treatment, it’s likely to develop into AIDS. This is a condition that causes your immune system to become unable to defend your body against infection. There currently isn’t a cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, such as treatment with Cabenuva, life expectancy for people with HIV is nearly the same as for those without it.

Cabenuva should only be used if HIV:

Your doctor will likely order a blood test to check your HIV levels before prescribing Cabenuva.

Cabenuva contains two extended-release medications for treating HIV. (“Extended release” means the drug is released into your body gradually over time.)

For about 1 month before starting Cabenuva treatment, you might take cabotegravir (Vocabria) and rilpivirine (Edurant) tablets by mouth. This is sometimes prescribed to make sure your body can tolerate these two drugs before you start receiving Cabenuva injections.

The dosage of Cabenuva you receive will be determined by your doctor. Below is some general information about this drug and its dosage.

Form and strength

Cabenuva is a liquid suspension that’s injected into your gluteal (butt) muscle by a healthcare professional. It comes as separate injections of cabotegravir and rilpivirine.

Cabenuva is available in two strengths:

  • 400 milligrams (mg) cabotegravir/600 mg rilpivirine
  • 600 mg cabotegravir/900 mg rilpivirine

Recommended dosage

You’ll receive Cabenuva injections either once per month or once every other month. Each dose is made up of two injections. You and your doctor will discuss which dosing schedule is best for you.

For about 1 month before starting Cabenuva, your doctor might prescribe cabotegravir (Vocabria) and rilpivirine (Edurant) tablets by mouth once per day.

Children’s dosage

Cabenuva’s dosage for children is the same as in adults (see above). Your child’s doctor will recommend the dosing schedule that’s best for your child.

Questions about Cabenuva’s dosage

Below are answers to some common questions about Cabenuva’s dosage.

  • What if I miss a dose of Cabenuva? If you miss an appointment for a Cabenuva injection, contact your doctor right away. They can help schedule a make-up appointment as soon as possible. You can receive Cabenuva injections within 7 days before or 7 days after your scheduled dose, and it will still be effective.
  • Will I need to use Cabenuva long term? If you and your doctor agree that Cabenuva is working well for you, you’ll likely use the drug long term.
  • How long does Cabenuva take to work? Cabenuva begins working as soon as you receive a dose. You won’t feel it working, but your doctor will continue to monitor the level of HIV in your blood. This is to make sure it stays low or undetectable throughout your treatment.
  • Should I eat before receiving my Cabenuva injection? Cabenuva injections aren’t affected by food. However, if you’re taking cabotegravir and rilpivirine tablets by mouth, it’s important to take these medications with food.

How is Cabenuva administered?

Your doctor will explain how Cabenuva will be given to you. They’ll also explain how much you’ll be given and how often.

Receiving Cabenuva

Cabenuva comes as a liquid suspension that’s injected into your gluteal (butt) muscle by a doctor or another healthcare professional. Each Cabenuva dose is made up of two injections. You’ll receive Cabenuva injections at a location such as your doctor’s office or clinic.

Receiving Cabenuva with other drugs

For about 1 month before starting Cabenuva, your doctor might prescribe immediate-release cabotegravir (Vocabria) and rilpivirine (Edurant) tablets by mouth once per day, with food. (“Immediate release” means the drug is released into your body right away.) Cabotegravir and rilpivirine are the two active drugs in Cabenuva, but Cabenuva contains them in extended-release form.

Your doctor might prescribe cabotegravir and rilpivirine tablets to make sure your body can tolerate these drugs before you start receiving Cabenuva injections.

Find answers below to some commonly asked questions about Cabenuva.

Is Cabenuva used for PrEP?

No, Cabenuva is only used for treating active HIV infection in certain people. It isn’t used for preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP). PrEP refers to drugs that help prevent HIV in those who don’t actually have the virus but are at high risk of contracting it.

One of the active drugs in Cabenuva is cabotegravir. This is also the active drug in Apretude, which is used for PrEP. (The active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about PrEP, including medications such as Apretude and others approved for this use.

How does Cabenuva work?

How a drug works is referred to as its mechanism of action.

Cabenuva contains two drugs: cabotegravir and rilpivirine, in an extended-release injection. (“Extended release” means the drug is released into your body gradually over time.) Each drug has its own mechanism of action:

  • Cabotegravir is an integrase inhibitor. This kind of medication blocks an enzyme (a protein that helps with chemical changes in your body) called integrase. Blocking integrase stops HIV from making copies of itself, which lowers the level of the virus in your blood.
  • Rilpivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It also stops the HIV virus from copying itself. Rilpivirine blocks an enzyme called reverse transcriptase. Blocking this enzyme keeps HIV from making copies of itself, which helps to lower the level of HIV in your body.

If you’d like to learn more about how Cabenuva works, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What should I know about Cabenuva vs. Biktarvy?

Biktarvy and Cabenuva are both prescribed to treat HIV in adults and certain children. But these drugs have some differences:

  • Cabenuva can be prescribed for certain children who are ages 12 years or older and weigh at least 35 kilograms (about 77 pounds). Biktarvy can be prescribed for certain children who weigh at least 14 kilograms (about 31 pounds).
  • Cabenuva is given as an injection into your muscle, and Biktarvy comes as a tablet that you swallow.

If you’d like to learn more about how Cabenuva and Biktarvy compare, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Will I need to store Cabenuva?

No, you won’t need to store Cabenuva.

You’ll receive Cabenuva injections from a healthcare professional, at a location such as a doctor’s office or clinic. They’ll handle and store your Cabenuva prescription, as well as prepare and give you the injections.

Does Cabenuva cure HIV?

No, Cabenuva isn’t a cure for HIV. There currently isn’t a cure for HIV. But with proper medical care, such as treatment with Cabenuva, life expectancy for people with HIV is nearly the same as for those without it.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about treatment options for HIV.

Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.

Before starting Cabenuva treatment, be sure to tell your doctor about all the medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter kinds. Also describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you take. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Cabenuva.

Interactions with drugs or supplements

Cabenuva can interact with several types of drugs.

Some drugs can increase the risk of HIV becoming resistant to Cabenuva. (With drug resistance, the drug stops working to treat the virus.) Due to this risk, doctors usually will not prescribe Cabenuva with certain drugs, such as:

Other drugs can also interact with Cabenuva, but may still be prescribed with it. Your doctor may monitor you more closely if you need to take these drugs with Cabenuva. These include:

This list does not contain all types of drugs that may interact with Cabenuva. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about these interactions and any others that may occur with Cabenuva.

Cabenuva and alcohol

There’s no known interaction between Cabenuva and alcohol. But both Cabenuva and excessive alcohol use can cause liver problems or damage. So, drinking too much or too often during your Cabenuva treatment could increase your risk of this side effect.

If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much is safe to drink during your Cabenuva treatment.

Cabenuva may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors that affect your health. Talk with your doctor about your health history before starting Cabenuva. Factors to consider include those listed below.

  • Mental health conditions. Cabenuva can cause depression or other changes in your mood. If you have a mental health condition, including depression, treatment with Cabenuva may make your condition worse. Talk with your doctor to help determine whether treatment with Cabenuva is safe for you.
  • Liver problems, including hepatitis B or C. Cabenuva can cause liver problems or make existing liver problems worse. This includes hepatitis B or hepatitis C. If you have a liver condition, talk with your doctor about whether or not Cabenuva is safe for you.
  • Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Cabenuva or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them what other medications might be better treatment options.

Help is out there

If you or someone you know is in crisis and considering suicide or self-harm, please seek support:

  • Call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Caring counselors are available to listen and provide free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 to connect with a volunteer crisis counselor for free and confidential support 24/7.
  • Not in the United States? Find a helpline in your country with Befrienders Worldwide.
  • Call 911 or your local emergency services number if you feel safe to do so.

If you’re calling on behalf of someone else, stay with them until help arrives. You may remove weapons or substances that can cause harm if you can do so safely.

If you’re not in the same household, stay on the phone with them until help arrives.

If you can become pregnant, are breastfeeding, or are using birth control, it’s important to consider whether Cabenuva is a safe choice for you.

You can refer to this Cabenuva reproductive health article for more information. If you have additional questions, talk with your doctor.

Q:

Will I need to take other HIV medications with Cabenuva?

Anonymous

A:

No, you won’t take other HIV medications during your Cabenuva treatment.

Cabenuva is prescribed to replace HIV medications you’re currently taking. Before prescribing Cabenuva, your doctor will test your blood to make sure your HIV level is low or undetectable. This means the level of HIV in the blood is below the level that can be measured by a lab test. Cabenuva is a complete treatment that’s used to keep HIV undetectable.

Other medications for treating HIV come as tablets or capsules you take every day. Cabenuva, on the other hand, is given by injection once monthly or every 2 months. Some people find a once monthly or every other month injection more convenient than taking a pill every day.

The Healthline Pharmacist TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.