Dolutegravir

3 medicines

Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor used with other antiretrovirals to treat HIV. It has a high barrier to drug resistance, but only if taken every day exactly as prescribed.

Tivicay

Dolutegravir

50mg

Tivicay is a hiv medication containing Dolutegravir, available as 50mg tablets.

from $2.74 / tablet View

Triumeq

Abacavir, Dolutegravir, Lamivudine

600/50/300mg

Triumeq is a hiv medication containing Abacavir + Dolutegravir + Lamivudine, available as 600/50/300mg tablets.

from $8.69 / tablet View

Viropil

Dolutegravir, Lamivudine, Tenofovir disoproxil

50/300/300mg

Viropil is a hiv medication containing Dolutegravir + Lamivudine + Tenofovir disoproxil, available as 50/300/300mg tablets.

from $6.24 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor, used as part of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV, often paired with one or two other drugs in a single tablet.
  • Take it once daily, with or without food, at the same time each day.
  • It has a high barrier to resistance, meaning HIV rarely develops resistance to it when taken correctly. Missed or irregular doses undo this advantage and risk treatment failure.
  • Seek urgent care for signs of liver problems, a severe allergic reaction, or a serious skin rash.

What dolutegravir treats

Dolutegravir treats HIV-1 infection in adults, adolescents and children above a certain weight, always combined with other antiretroviral drugs. It is used both for people starting treatment for the first time and for those switching regimens, and it is a preferred first-line option in current HIV treatment guidelines because of its high resistance barrier and once-daily dosing.

How dolutegravir works

HIV uses an enzyme called integrase to insert its genetic material into the DNA of the cells it infects. Dolutegravir blocks this enzyme, so the virus cannot integrate and new virus particles cannot be produced. This keeps the amount of virus in the blood suppressed when combined with other antiretroviral drugs.

Before you take it

  • Tell your prescriber about any past allergic reaction to an integrase inhibitor.
  • Tell your prescriber about liver disease, since dolutegravir is processed by the liver.
  • Separate dolutegravir from calcium, iron, magnesium, aluminium or antacid products by several hours: taken together, they markedly reduce how much you absorb.
  • If you take metformin, tell your prescriber; dolutegravir can raise metformin levels and your dose may need review.

Side effects

Common effects include nausea, headache, fatigue, diarrhoea, and difficulty sleeping.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • Signs of a severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.
  • Severe or worsening low mood, anxiety, or thoughts of self-harm.
  • A new, spreading rash.

Safety essentials

  • Dolutegravir's high resistance barrier protects long-term treatment success, but this benefit depends entirely on taking it every day without missed doses; irregular adherence is the main way resistance develops.
  • Keep calcium, iron, magnesium and antacid products several hours apart from your dose; taking them together can make dolutegravir ineffective.
  • Regular viral load, CD4 count, and liver function tests guide ongoing therapy; keep all follow-up appointments.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.