Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) is an HIV antiretroviral (ARV) tablet that contains two medications. It's not meant for people who have never taken HIV ARVs. Still, it's a good option for people who are well controlled on their current HIV regimen and want to switch to different regimen.
HIV treatment for people who are well controlled on an HIV ARV regimen already and want to switch regimens
Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) is an HIV ARV combination medication. It contains two medications that prevent HIV from infecting your cells and making copies of itself.
Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor and prevents HIV from inserting itself in your DNA (genetic material).
Rilpivirine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI). It stops an important enzyme (reverse transcriptase) and blocks the HIV DNA-making process.
Source: FDA
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
Convenient; one tablet once a day
Two medications is a full HIV regimen; less risk for side effects
No dose adjustments needed for people with mild kidney or liver problems
Must be taken with food
Not meant for people first starting HIV ARVs
Can interact with a lot of medications, including over-the-counter (OTC) heartburn products
Take Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) with a meal. You won't absorb enough medication if you take it on an empty stomach. A protein shake doesn't count as a meal.
Make sure your provider has a full list of your medications so they can check for interactions. This is especially important if you take antiseizure medications, steroids, or certain stomach acid treatments.
You can take Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) with certain stomach acid treatments like famotidine (Pepcid AC) and cimetidine (Tagamet HB). However, you need to separate them. Take Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) at least 4 hours before or 12 hours after these medications.
Make sure you contact your pharmacy to order a refill when you're running low on tablets. Sometimes, it can take a little extra time to process refills for high-cost medications like HIV ARVs and you don't want to run out of medication.
If you have to go to the hospital or emergency room, bring your Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) tablets. Not every hospital will have this medication in their pharmacy and you don't want to miss doses.
Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
In some rare cases, Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) can cause severe allergic reactions that can affect your organs and be life-threatening. If you suddenly get a high fever, blistering rash all over your body, swelling in the face, or trouble breathing, stop taking Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) and contact your provider or get medical help right away.
Risk factors: History of liver disease | Hepatitis B or C infection
Some people have changes in their liver tests after starting Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine). It can happen to anyone, but it's more common in people who have some type of liver disease. Your provider will check your liver before you start Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) and will see if you also have a hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection. After you start the medication, your provider will do regular blood tests to monitor your liver.
Risk factors: Taking Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) during the first trimester of pregnancy
Taking dolutegravir, an ARV found in Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine), during your first trimester of pregnancy might raise the risk of neural tube defects for your unborn baby. Your provider might check if you're pregnant before you start Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine). If you're pregnant or trying to become pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about the safest medication options. If you're currently taking Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) and don't want to become pregnant, talk to your provider about your options for birth control.
Risk factors: History of mental health conditions
Rilpivirine, one of the HIV ARVs in Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine), has been linked to negative thoughts, depression, and thoughts of suicide. If you or a loved one notices that your mood starts to change while taking Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine), let your provider know. If you start thinking about wanting to harm yourself, get medical attention right away.
Risk factors: Taking a lot medications
Always make sure your healthcare team has a full list of the medications you're taking, including over-the-counter (OTC) medications and supplements. Don't start taking any new medications without talking to your provider or pharmacist first. Many medications can interact with Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine). Some interactions can cause unpleasant side effects, while others can affect how well Juluca (dolutegravir / rilpivirine) works (its antiretroviral activity) and lead to resistance (which can make HIV harder to treat). Your provider might adjust your medications to make sure they're all safe for you to take.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
50mg/25mg | 30 tablets | $3557.12 | $118.57 |
The recommended dose is 1 tablet by mouth once a day with a meal. Each tablet contains 50 mg of dolutegravir and 25 mg of rilpivirine.
Taking at the same time as dofetilide (Tikosyn)
Taking at the same time as medications that lower the level of rilpivirine in your body, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), rifampin, or certain antiseizure medications
HIV treatment for people who are well controlled on an HIV ARV regimen already and want to switch regimens
Treatment of HIV infection in adults
Starting HIV treatment for the first time, or
Have a HIV viral load of less than 50 copies/mL from a previous ART
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