5 Dolutegravir Side Effects You Should Know About
Dolutegravir is a medication to treat HIV. The side effects you may experience, and their intensity, depends on the dosage and situation.
Triumeq
Used for HIV Treatment
Used for HIV Treatment
Triumeq is a single-tablet regimen used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. It contains 3 antiretrovirals (ARVs): abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine. Triumeq is available as either a tablet or a dissolvable tablet for oral suspension (Triumeq PD), but the two are not the same. Before starting treatment, your provider will require you to get a genetic test to see if you're at risk for developing a serious allergic reaction to this medication.
What is Triumeq?
What is Triumeq used for?
- Treatment of HIV infection (in people who weigh at least 22 pounds)
How Triumeq works
Triumeq is a combination of 3 medications:
- Dolutegravir is an integrase inhibitor. Integrase is an enzyme (protein) that the HIV virus uses to enter your cells and make more copies of itself. Dolutegravir works by blocking integrase, therefore preventing HIV viruses from spreading.
- Lamivudine and abacavir are both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). They block an enzyme called reverse transcriptase, which prevents the HIV virus from making copies of itself and spreading.
Drug facts
| Common Brands | Triumeq, Triumeq PD |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | HIV ARV |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | No lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
Side effects of Triumeq
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
- Higher lipase levels (suggesting irritated pancreas) (up to 11%)
- Higher blood sugar levels (up to 9%)
- Higher creatine kinase levels in the blood (suggesting muscle damage) (up to 7%)
- Higher fat levels in the blood (up to 6%)
- Higher white blood cell count (up to 4%)
- Abnormal liver labs (up to 3%)
- Trouble sleeping (3%)
- Headache (2%)
- Feeling tired (2%)
Please note: The side effects listed above are from clinical trials with Tivicay (dolutegravir) and Epzicom (abacavir / lamivudine), which are all active ingredients in Triumeq and Triumeq PD
Less Common Side Effects
- Depression
- Strange dreams
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Rash
Triumeq serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe allergic reactions: fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain, extreme tiredness, body aches, trouble breathing, sore throat, cough
- Serious liver problems: nausea, vomiting, not feeling hungry, pain in the right side of the stomach, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or skin, dark-colored urine, light-colored stool
- Too much lactic acid in the blood: Weakness, tiredness, dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, fast heartbeat, muscle pain, arms and legs feeling cold
The following Triumeq side effects have also been reported
Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
- Allergic reactions or angioedema—skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, arms, or legs, trouble swallowing or breathing
- Heart attack—pain or tightness in the chest, shoulders, arms, or jaw, nausea, shortness of breath, cold or clammy skin, feeling faint or lightheaded
- High lactic acid level—muscle pain or cramps, stomach pain, trouble breathing, general discomfort and fatigue
- Infection—fever, chills, cough, or sore throat
- Liver injury—right upper belly pain, loss of appetite, nausea, light-colored stool, dark yellow or brown urine, yellowing skin or eyes, unusual weakness or fatigue
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Nausea
- Trouble sleeping
- Vivid dreams or nightmares
- Worsening mood, feelings of depression
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Pros and cons of Triumeq
Pros
- Only taken once a day for complete HIV treatment
- Combines three medications into one pill for convenience
- Can be taken with or without food
- Available for adults and children at or over 22 lbs
Cons
- Dose can't be adjusted so it's not recommended for people with kidney or liver problems
- Not safe to use in severe liver problems
- Requires a genetic test before starting
- Interacts with a lot of medications such as St. John’s wort and oxcarbazepine (Trileptal)
Pharmacist tips for Triumeq
- Triumeq can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. This is why it comes with a warning card that lists all the symptoms to watch out for. Make sure you read this card before taking Triumeq. Carry the warning card with you at all times in case of a medical emergency. If you experience 2 and more of the following symptoms, get medical attention right away: fever, rash, stomach problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, belly pain), feeling sick (e.g., extreme tiredness, body aches), or trouble breathing (e.g., shortness of breath, cough, sore throat).
- Make sure to get your routine blood tests done on time while you’re taking Triumeq so your provider can make sure this medication is working for you and not causing side effects. Talk with your provider about your medical history, including any liver problems or history of hepatitis, before starting Triumeq.
- Tell your provider if your child experiences any changes in weight while taking Triumeq PD because the dose might need to be changed.
- Mix Triumeq PD tablets with 20 mL of water in the dosing cup provided. After you mix it, drink this solution within 30 minutes. Make sure there's no clumps. You can add 15 mL of water in the dosing cup afterwards to help your child swallow all the medication.
- Triumeq can interact with many medications. Let your provider or pharmacist know what medications you're taking, including over-the-counter products and supplements, before you start Triumeq.
- Take Triumeq 2 hours before or 6 hours after antacids (e.g., Tums), laxatives (e.g., Milk of Magnesia), and supplements containing calcium, iron, magnesium, or aluminum. This is because these medications can interfere with how your body absorbs Triumeq. Alternatively, you can also take medications that contain calcium or iron at the same time as Triumeq as long as you take everything together with food.
- Talk to your provider before stopping Triumeq or any of your HIV medications. Doing so can cause the virus to spread and become harder to treat. And if you have hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, stopping Triumeq suddenly can cause your infection to come back or worsen.
Risks and warnings for Triumeq
Triumeq 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.
Serious allergic reaction
- Risk factors: Positive genetic test (HLA-B5701) | History of serious allergy to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine
Medications that contains abacavir, such as Triumeq, have caused allergic reactions that are sometimes life-threatening. These reactions are most common in the month and a half of treatment. Your provider might ask you to take a genetic test before starting this medication to see if you're at higher risk for allergic reaction to Triumeq.
Watch out for signs and symptoms of allergic reactions. Get medical attention right away if you have 2 or more of the following groups of symptom:
- Group 1: fever
- Group 2: rash
- Group 3: nausea, vomiting diarrhea, belly pain
- Group 4: feeling sick, extreme tiredness, body aches
- Group 5: trouble breathing, cough, sore throat
You'll need to stop taking Triumeq so your provider can help with your symptoms. If you experience a serious allergic reaction, your provider will switch you to a different medication to treat HIV.
Worsening of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection
- Risk factors: Infected with both hepatitis B and HIV | Stopping Triumeq | Severe liver problems
If you have HBV, taking Triumeq and suddenly stopping your treatment can make your infection worse (HBV flare-up). Before you begin Triumeq, your provider will test to see if you have HBV. Never stop taking Triumeq without talking with your provider first. Make sure to get your refills of Triumeq in time so that your treatment isn't interrupted. If you need to stop taking Triumeq, your provider will order blood work to check your liver regularly for a few months afterwards to monitor you for a HBV flare-up.
In addition, if you have HIV and HBV, taking Triumeq can make it easier for HBV to change form. This means the virus will become harder to treat. If you have both infections at the same time, your provider will likely switch you to a different medication.
Liver problems
- Risk factors: Obesity | Females | Hepatitis B or C | Having received a liver transplant
Rarely, people who take medications that contain dolutegravir, such as Triumeq, can experience serious liver problems. Talk with your provider about your medical history before starting this medication so they can decide how you can safely take Triumeq.
Additionally, abacavir and lamivudine in Triumeq can cause a buildup of lactic acid in the blood, as well as fatty liver. Both conditions can be life-threatening and you're more likely to experience them if you're female or identify as obese.
Make sure to get blood tests done while you take Triumeq so your provider can check your liver health. If you experience signs and symptoms of liver damage, such as nausea, vomiting, feeling weak, upper right stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, or dark urine, talk with your provider right away. Also, let your provider know if you experience symptoms of too much lactic acid, such as feeling weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, nausea, and vomiting.
Overactive immune system
Taking Triumeq can cause changes to your immune system called immune reconstitution syndrome. This is a medical condition where your immune system becomes more active after you start Triumeq treatment and it begins to fight off different infections (infections your immune system was too weak to fight off before). In rare cases, your immune system may become so strong that it starts to attack normal cells in your body (autoimmune). You can experience immune reconstitution syndrome as early as during the first few weeks of Triumeq treatment, or many months later. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having any new symptoms, such as anxiety, hair loss, bulging eyes, or sweating, after starting Triumeq.
Interaction with other medications
Some medications can interfere with how your body removes Triumeq. This can affect the amount of Triumeq in your body, how well it works, and the risk of side effects.
Taking heartburn medications like calcium carbonate (Tums) can cause Triumeq to not work as well in treating HIV. If you are planning to take antacids with Triumeq, make sure to take both medications with food. Alternatively, take Triumeq 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking antacids.
Avoid taking certain medications for seizures (e.g., carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenytoin (Dilantin)) or antibiotics (e.g., rifampin (Rifadin)) along with Triumeq. These medications can lower the amount of Triumeq in your body and cause it to not work as well in treating HIV.
Triumeq dosage
The average cost for 30 tablets of 600mg/50mg/300mg of Triumeq is $3,644.18 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 25.75% off the average retail price of $4,907.66. 
Tablet
Tablet| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 600mg/50mg/300mg | 30 tablets | $3,644.18 | $121.47 |
Typical dosage for Triumeq
Triumeq (tablet)
Each tablet of Triumeq contains 600 mg of abacavir, 50 mg of dolutegravir, and 300 mg of lamivudine.
- Adults and children (55 lbs or more): The typical dose is 1 tablet by mouth once a day.
Triumeq PD (tablet for liquid suspension)
Each tablet of Triumeq PD contains 60 mg of abacavir, 5 mg of dolutegravir, and 30 mg of lamivudine.
- Children (22 lbs to 54 lbs): Your child's provider will determine their dose based on their body weight. The typical recommended dose is to mix 4 to 6 tablets with 20 mL of water, then drink by mouth once daily.
Your dose of Triumeq or Triumeq PD might be different if you're also taking certain medications at the same time.
How much does Triumeq cost?
To access savings, use a GoodRx coupon and pay just a fraction of the retail price.
Triumeq (brand)
$3,644.18
Triumeq contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Triumeq will not be safe for you to take.
- People with genetic testing that shows potential allergy to abacavir
- History of allergy to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine
- Taking dofetilide (Tikosyn)
- Moderate or severe liver problem
What are alternatives to Triumeq?
There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Triumeq. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
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