Cabotegravir is used with another HIV medication (rilpivirine) for short-term treatment to replace other medication(s) used to help control HIV infection. Cabotegravir is also used by itself for short-term treatment to help prevent HIV infection in people who have a high risk for infection. Short-term treatment (usually for 1 month) is used to see how well you can take this medication before using the long-acting form. This form of cabotegravir may also be used if you will miss a planned injection of the long-acting form of this medication. Cabotegravir helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Cabotegravir belongs to a class of drugs known as integrase inhibitors. It blocks the virus from growing and infecting more cells.

Cabotegravir is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during sexual activity as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.

Read the Patient Information Leaflet if available from your pharmacist before you start using cabotegravir and each time you get a refill. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. If you are taking cabotegravir at the same time as rilpivirine, take it with a meal. The dosage and treatment schedule are based on your medical condition and response to treatment.

Take this medication at least 4 hours before or 2 hours after products that contain aluminum, magnesium, or calcium (such as antacids, mineral/vitamin supplements). These products may make cabotegravir not work well.

If you are taking this medication to prevent HIV infection, you must first get tested to be sure you are HIV-negative. Your doctor will perform lab tests before starting this medication and periodically during treatment to make sure that you do not have HIV infection. Using this product will not always prevent HIV infection. To get the most benefit from it, take this product exactly as directed, and follow all prevention actions. (See also Uses section.) Tell your doctor right away if you have any signs of HIV infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, tiredness, fever, night sweats, diarrhea, joint/muscle aches, swollen lymph nodes).

Do not take more or less of this drug than prescribed or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Doing so may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.

For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.

Headache, nausea, dizziness, anxiety, or trouble sleeping may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that this medication has been prescribed because your doctor has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

As your immune system gets stronger, it can begin to fight off infections you already had, possibly causing disease symptoms to come back. You could also have symptoms if your immune system becomes overactive. This reaction may happen at any time (soon after starting HIV treatment or many months later). Get medical help right away if you have any serious symptoms, including:

• unexplained weight loss
• severe tiredness
• muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away
• headaches that are severe or don't go away
• joint pain
• numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs
• vision changes
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, trouble breathing, cough, non-healing skin sores)
• signs of an overactive thyroid (such as irritability, nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, bulging eyes, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter)
• signs of a certain nerve problem known as Guillain-Barre syndrome (such as unsteadiness, loss of coordination, trouble swallowing/speaking/chewing, trouble moving your eyes)
• signs of liver disease (such as nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, stomach/abdominal pain, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine)

Tell your doctor right away if you have any serious side effects, including:

• mental/mood changes (such as depression, thoughts of suicide)

Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking this medication (such as increased fat in the upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of treatment with your doctor, as well as the possible use of exercise to reduce this side effect.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction, including:

• rash
• itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat)
• severe dizziness
• trouble breathing

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

Before taking cabotegravir, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

• liver disease (such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C)
• mental/mood disorders (such as depression)

This drug may make you dizzy. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Limit alcoholic beverages. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis).

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant before using this medication. Treatment can lower the risk of passing HIV infection to your baby. Discuss the risks and benefits with your doctor.

It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Because breast milk may transmit HIV, consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

See also How to Use section.

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor's approval.

Other medications can affect the removal of cabotegravir from your body, which may affect how cabotegravir works. Examples include efavirenz, rifamycins (such as rifampin, rifapentine), ritonavir, certain drugs used to treat seizures (such as carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin, primidone), among others.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call 1-844-764-7669.

Do not share this medication with others.

Lab and/or medical tests (such as viral load, T-cell counts, liver function) should be done while you are taking this medication. Keep all medical and lab appointments.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is near the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose. Take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double the dose to catch up.

Store at room temperature away from light and moisture. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep all medications away from children and pets.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company.