Is Dovato covered by insurance?
Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine) is an oral brand-name drug that is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in certain adults.
Dovato’s cost will depend on your insurance plan and if it is on their formulary. You should contact your plan to see if it is covered and what your copay would be. In general, most commercial insurance companies will cover Dovato. Some insurance plans may require you to get prior authorization before they will cover Dovato. This means your insurance plan and your healthcare provider will discuss Dovato to determine whether the medication is covered. If it requires prior authorization and you don’t receive Dovato before you start treatment, you could pay the full cost of the drug. The average retail price is over $3,500 for a 30-day supply (#30 tablets) of this medication. If it is covered by commercial insurance, around 83% of Dovato prescriptions will cost less than $10 per month. For Medicare Part D patients, about 80% of their prescriptions for Dovato cost less than $10 per month.
In this blog, we go over important information you need to know as well as how you can save money on this medication.
Dovato FAQs
What is Dovato used for?
Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine) is a combination medication manufactured by Viiv Healthcare that is FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults. It can be used if you have no previous treatment for HIV-1 or as a replacement for your current drug regimen as long as you have an undetectable HIV level in your blood.
How does Dovato work?
Dovato is a combination tablet that contains an integrase inhibitor, dolutegravir, and a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI), lamivudine. Dolutegravir treats the HIV infection by stopping the virus from making copies of itself. This prevents the virus from spreading throughout your body which helps reduce the amount of HIV in your blood (viral load). Lamivudine also stops the virus from copying itself but does so by blocking a different enzyme (protein) than dolutegravir.
What are the side effects of Dovato?
The most common side effects of Dovato in clinical trials include:
- Headache
- Weight gain
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Trouble sleeping
- Tiredness
- Anxiety
Some other possible side effects of Dovato include:
- Increased blood sugar levels
- Decreased phosphate levels
- Increased creatine kinase levels in the blood
- Increased lipase levels
- Abnormal liver labs
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain
- Vomiting
- Gas
- Feeling depressed
- Strange dreams
Dovato may also cause more serious side effects including:
- Serious, sometimes life-threatening allergic reactions, with symptoms such as hives, swelling of your throat and tongue, trouble breathing, and blisters or sores in your mouth.
- Worsening hepatitis B virus (HBV), especially if you suddenly stop taking Dovato.
- Liver problems with symptoms such as upper right stomach pain, loss of appetite, yellowing of your skin or whites of your eyes (jaundice), or dark urine, notify your healthcare provider immediately.
- Lactic acidosis (build-up of lactic acid in your blood), with symptoms such as feeling weak, muscle pain, and trouble breathing.
- Immune reconstitution syndrome, where your immune system can become overactive and attack normal cells in your body. Symptoms can include fever, pain, hair loss, bulging eyes, or sweating, after starting Dovato.
- Harm to your unborn baby. Dovato increases the risk of birth defects if taken early in your pregnancy. Your healthcare provider may ask you to take a pregnancy test before starting Dovato if you can become pregnant. You should also discuss birth control options with them while you are taking Dovato. You may be able to take Dovato in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, but only if the benefit is greater than the risk of harm to your unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, discuss your HIV treatment options with your healthcare provider.
These are not all of the possible adverse events of Dovato. You should always seek medical advice from a healthcare professional for any questions or concerns about your medical condition or treatment. You should also read all the patient information, including your Medication Guide that comes with Dovato. You can report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
What should you tell your healthcare provider before taking Dovato?
You should avoid this medication if you are allergic to dolutegravir, lamivudine, or any inactive ingredient in this product. You should not take Dovato if you are currently taking a medication called dofetilide.
You should be sure your healthcare provider is aware of all your medical conditions as they may be contraindications or you may need increased monitoring during treatment, including if you:
- Have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection.
- Have kidney problems.
- Are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant as Dovato may cause harm to your unborn baby. If you are pregnant and taking Dovato, you should enroll in the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR). This registry collects information about your and your baby’s health during Dovato treatment. You can learn more about this registry by calling 1-800-258-4263.
- Are breastfeeding or plan on breastfeeding. You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because you may pass it on to your baby. Also, Dovato is found in your breast milk. Discuss with your healthcare provider the best way to feed your baby.
Are there any drug interactions with Dovato?
When Dovato is taken with other prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbal products, and supplements, it may change how they work or increase the risk of side effects. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about all your current medications, including:
- Other antiretroviral medications
- Antacids or laxatives that contain calcium, magnesium, or aluminum
- Dofetilide
- Dalfampridine
- Metformin
- Carbamazepine
- Oxcarbazepine
- Phenytoin
- Phenobarbital
- St. John’s Wort
- Sorbitol
- Rifampin
Are there any financial assistance programs available for Dovato?
ViiV Healthcare, the company that manufactures Dovato, offers a patient assistance program that can help you save money on this medication. ViiVConnect helps you find ways to afford prescribed ViiV Healthcare medications no matter if you are insured, underinsured, or uninsured. Visit ViiVConnect for more enrollment details. You can also call 1-844-588-3288 on Monday through Friday, 8am–11pm (ET). An Access Coordinator will work with you to answer questions about your coverage and access to their prescribed ViiV Healthcare medications such as Dovato.
Is there a savings card available for Dovato?
Eligible patients with commercial drug coverage can pay as little as $0 per prescription through their ViivConnect Savings Card Program. This savings card can be used at participating retail and mail-order pharmacies. If your mail-order or retail pharmacy doesn’t participate in this program, you can request a rebate online or download a mail-in rebate form to help with your out-of-pocket cost.
This offer is not valid if you have a state, federal, or government-funded prescription drug plan such as Medigap, Medicare, Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, or TRICARE.
The maximum annual benefit available under the ViivConnect Savings Card Program is $6,250 per calendar year. You can get additional information by visiting MyViiVCard.com or calling 1-844-588-3288.
How can you save money on your Dovato prescription?
If you do not have health insurance, Dovato is not covered, or you do not qualify for a patient assistance program or savings card, there are other ways you can save money on your prescription:
- Universal Drugstore (UDS) – You can save on your Dovato prescription by ordering from one of Canada’s oldest, largest, and most trusted online prescription referral services. At UDS, you can get #30 tablets (1 month-supply) delivered to your doorstep for around $1,440 with a valid Dovato prescription.
- Discount card or coupon – You may save money by using a discount card or Dovato coupon to purchase this medication. These cards and coupons can be used at participating pharmacies in your area, even if you have insurance.
- Compare prices – The price of a prescription can vary by hundreds of dollars, depending on which pharmacy you use. Compare what Dovato will cost at multiple pharmacies for the lowest price, including online and mail-order pharmacies.
- Find an alternative HIV medication – Talk to your healthcare provider about an alternative treatment that may work for you. There are many alternatives they can be prescribed, including:
- Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
- Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate)
- Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate)
- Triumeq (abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine)
- Stribild (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
- Juluca (dolutegravir/rilpivirine)