APRETUDE is a prescription medicine used for HIV-1 PrEP to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 77 pounds (at least 35 kg).
We’ve come a long way, but today, HIV is still an important consideration when thinking about your sexual health. Just knowing that fact can be a big step toward protecting yourself—and the people you know and love.
Let’s start with some real numbers.
1 in 8 individuals living with HIV doesn’t know they are positive, and nearly 37,000* Americans are diagnosed with HIV each year.
*According to a 2019 study.
Here’s what that means.
Should I get an HIV test?
Let’s talk about sexual networks
A sexual network is a community of intimate connections. A sexual network includes you, anyone you have sexual contact with, and anyone that person (or people) has sexual contact with.
The more people in your sexual network (including the people your partner[s] may have in their sexual network), the more likely you are to be exposed to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV.
The good news? There’s power in numbers.
When you protect yourself from HIV and encourage your partners to do the same, you help protect yourself.
What about STIs and HIV?
This may be surprising, but if you’ve had an STI in the last year, you may want to connect with your healthcare provider about HIV prevention.
That’s because having an STI can increase the likelihood of getting HIV. STIs cause inflammation and small openings in the skin, which can allow HIV to enter the body more easily.
Know where you stand
Another factor that can contribute to the risk of getting HIV? The ZIP Code you live in.
If your city or town has a higher rate of HIV, it’s even more important to have safer sex and to talk to your healthcare provider about getting on PrEP.
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IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
What is the most important thing I should know about APRETUDE?
Before receiving APRETUDE to reduce your risk of getting HIV-1, you must be HIV-1 negative to start APRETUDE. Do not receive APRETUDE unless you are tested and confirmed to be HIV-1 negative.
Some HIV-1 tests can miss HIV-1 infection in a person who has recently become infected. Tell your healthcare provider if you had a flu-like illness within the last month before starting or at any time while receiving APRETUDE. Symptoms of new HIV-1 infection include: tiredness; joint or muscle aches; sore throat; rash; enlarged lymph nodes in the neck or groin; fever; headache; vomiting or diarrhea; or night sweats
While you are receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP:
APRETUDE does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Practice safer sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to reduce the risk of getting STIs
You must stay HIV-1 negative to keep receiving APRETUDE for HIV-1 PrEP
Who should not receive APRETUDE?
Do not receive APRETUDE if you:
already have HIV-1 or do not know your HIV-1 status. If you are HIV-1 positive, you need to take other medicines to treat HIV-1. APRETUDE can only help reduce your risk of getting HIV-1 infection before you are infected. If you have HIV-1 and receive only APRETUDE, over time, your HIV-1 may become harder to treat
are allergic to cabotegravir
are taking certain medicines: carbamazepine; oxcarbazepine; phenobarbital; phenytoin; rifampin; or rifapentine
What are the possible side effects of APRETUDE?
APRETUDE may cause serious side effects:
Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with APRETUDE. Stop receiving APRETUDE and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; trouble breathing; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue
Liver problems. Liver problems have happened in people with or without a history of liver problems or other risk factors. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow; dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools; nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area; or itching
Depression or mood changes. Call your healthcare provider or get emergency medical help right away if you have any of the following symptoms: feeling sad or hopeless; feeling anxious or restless; have thoughts of hurting yourself (suicide) or have tried to hurt yourself
The most common side effects of APRETUDE include:
Pain, tenderness, hardened mass or lump, swelling, bruising, redness, itching, warmth, loss of sensation at the injection site, abscess, and discoloration; diarrhea; headache; fever; tiredness; sleep problems; nausea; dizziness; passing gas; stomach pain; vomiting; muscle pain; rash; loss of appetite; drowsiness; back pain; or upper respiratory infection
These are not all the possible side effects of APRETUDE. Call your healthcare provider for medical advice about side effects
Before receiving APRETUDE, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:
have ever had a skin rash or an allergic reaction to medicines that contain cabotegravir
have or have had liver problems
have ever had mental health problems
are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if APRETUDE will harm your unborn baby. APRETUDE can remain in your body for up to 12 months or longer after the last injection. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while receiving APRETUDE
are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if APRETUDE can pass to your baby in your breast milk. Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while receiving APRETUDE
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Some medicines may interact with APRETUDE. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider
How will I receive APRETUDE?
APRETUDE is initially given as an injection into the muscle of your buttock 1 time every month for the first 2 months, then as an injection 1 time every 2 months
Before receiving your first APRETUDE injection, your healthcare provider may have you take 1 oral cabotegravir tablet 1 time a day for 1 month (at least 28 days) to assess how well you tolerate cabotegravir
APRETUDE is a long-acting medicine and may stay in your body for 12 months or longer after your last injection
Stay under the care of a healthcare provider while receiving APRETUDE. It is important that you receive APRETUDE as scheduled
If you miss or plan to miss a scheduled injection of APRETUDE by more than 7 days, call your healthcare provider right away to discuss your PrEP options
If you stop receiving APRETUDE, talk to your healthcare provider about other options to reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please read the Patient Information for APRETUDE and discuss it with your healthcare provider.
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