What is Dovato?

Dovato (dolutegravir/lamivudine) is 2 antiretroviral medications combined in 1 tablet. It is an effective HIV treatment, but it will not cure HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, is the virus that causes AIDS. It can only infect humans and leads to the weakening of your immune system. When your immune system is damaged or weakened, you become vulnerable to all kinds of bacteria, viruses, or other agents that cause disease. HIV is primarily spread through unprotected sex and condoms can help stop the spread of this virus. Dovato can also lower, but not fully prevent, your risk of spreading HIV to others. It does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

Dovato is only used if you have not taken any other HIV medications before or if you are replacing your current treatment and have an undetectable viral load (amount of HIV in your blood).

Keep reading to learn how Dovato works, who can take it, what its side effects are, as well as answer some other frequently asked questions.

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 two-drug combination 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. 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
    • Blisters or sores in your mouth
    • Blistering or peeling skin
  • Worsening hepatitis B virus (HBV)
  • Liver problems
  • Lactic acidosis
  • Immune reconstitution
  • Harm to your unborn baby

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.

Is there a Boxed Warning with Dovato?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that you be tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV) before starting Dovato treatment. Using medications that contain lamivudine, including Dovato, when you have both HIV-1 and HBV can cause your HBV to become resistant to lamivudine. This may make HBV harder to treat. Additional treatment for HBV should be considered or your healthcare provider may choose a different regimen for HIV-1.

Also, If you have HIV-1 and HBV, stopping treatment with medications containing lamivudine, such as Dovato, may worsen HBV. Your liver function should be monitored and treatment for HBV started if needed.

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.
  • Are breastfeeding or plan on breastfeeding.

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

What is the dosage for Dovato?

Dovato comes as an oral tablet that contains 50 mg of dolutegravir and 300 mg of lamivudine. The typical dose of Dovato is one tablet by mouth once daily with or without food. The dolutegravir dose (50 mg) in Dovato is not effective if you take it along with carbamazepine or rifampin. In this case, you will need to take an additional 50 mg of dolutegravir approximately 12 hours after you take your daily Dovato tablet.

If you miss a dose of Dovato, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not double your dose or take more than your prescribed dose.

How much does Dovato cost per month?

Dovato is an expensive brand-name medication with no generic version available. Your cost will depend on if your insurance plan covers it. You should contact your plan to see if it is covered and what your copay would be.

If you do not have insurance or your plan does not cover it, the average retail price is over $3,500 for a month’s supply (#30 tablets). At Universal Drugstore (UDS), you can get #30 tablets of Dovato delivered to you for around $1,440 with a valid prescription.

Is Dovato the same as Biktarvy?

Dovato and Biktarvy are both used to treat HIV infections but they have some key differences.

Ingredients

Dovato is a combination of two medications: lamivudine and dolutegravir. Biktarvy combines three medications: emtricitabine, tenofovir alafenamide, and bictegravir.

Uses

Both medications are used to treat adults with HIV infections 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. Biktarvy can also be used in children who weigh at least 55 pounds (25 kg).

Side effects

Both Dovato and Biktarvy may commonly cause diarrhea, nausea, headache, insomnia, and fatigue. Dovato may also more commonly cause anxiety while Biktarvy may cause stomach pain.

Drug interactions

Both Dovato and Biktarvy interact with medications such as carbamazepine, other antiretrovirals, rifampin, St. John’s wort, carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin. Dovato can also interact with antacids or laxatives that contain calcium, magnesium, or aluminum.

Effectiveness

These medications have not been directly compared in clinical studies. However, separate studies have found both Biktarvy and Dovato to be effective for treating HIV in certain adults.

Related Medications

  • Truvada (emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
  • Descovy (emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate)
  • Genvoya (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate)
  • Biktarvy (bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide fumarate)
  • Triumeq (abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine)
  • Stribild (elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)

Sources