Look inside the book: Nursing 2025-2026 Drug Handbook

204 cabotegravir

IM • Drug is provided in a kit with vial adapter, needle, and syringe. • Allow vial to reach room temperature if stored in refrigerator. • Inspect for particulate matter and discol oration. Discard if present. • Shake vial vigorously until suspension ap pears uniform. Small air bubbles are expected and acceptable. • Give as soon as possible. Suspension may remain in syringe for up to 2 hours. After 2 hours, discard drug and syringe. Don’t refrigerate filled syringe. • Inject into ventrogluteal area (preferred) or dorsogluteal area (upper outer quadrant). • May need longer needle lengths sufficient to reach gluteus muscle for patients with BMI greater than 30 kg/m 2 . • May give injection up to 7 days before or after the date patient is to receive the injection. • If patient plans to miss a scheduled every 2-month injection by more than 7 days, give oral cabotegravir bridge doses. • If injection is missed or delayed more than 7 days and oral therapy hasn’t been given, re assess patient to determine if resumption of injection dosing remains appropriate. Refer to manufacturer’s instructions for recommenda tions on repeated missed injections and time since prior injection. • Store suspension at 36 ◦ to77 ◦ F(2 ◦ to 25 ◦ C). Don’t freeze. ACTION Inhibits HIV integrase by binding to the inte grase active site and blocking the strand trans fer step of retroviral DNA integration. Route Onset Peak Duration PO Unknown 3 hr Unknown IM Unknown 7 days Unknown Half-life: PO, 41 hours; IM, 5.6 to 11.5 weeks. ADVERSE REACTIONS CNS: abnormal dreams, asthenia, depressive disorders, dizziness, fatigue, fever, headache, mood swings, sleep disorder, somnolence. GI: abdominal pain, decreased appetite, diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, vomiting. GU: increased creatinine level. Hepatic: increased AST andALT. Metabolic: increased CK level, in creased lipase level. Musculoskeletal: back pain, myalgia. Respiratory: URI. Skin: rash. Other: injection-site reactions.

therapy to assess cabotegravir tolerability before starting cabotegravir and rilpivirine extended-release injections. Give final oral dose the same day as starting cabotegravir and rilpivirine injections. Adults (bridging therapy): 30 mg PO daily in combination with oral rilpivirine for up to 2 months as bridging therapy for patients who plan to miss a scheduled injection by more than 7 days. Start first dose of bridging therapy 1 month after final cabotegravir and rilpivirine injection for patients on a monthly schedule and about 2 months after last injec tion for patients on an every-2-month sched ule. Continue oral dosing until injections are restarted. ➤ Short-term preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to reduce risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in patients at risk Adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg (lead-in therapy): 1 tablet PO daily for at least 28 days as lead-in therapy before start ing cabotegravir extended-release injections. Give final oral dose on same day of or within 3 days after initiating cabotegravir injections. Adults and adolescents ages 12 and older weighing at least 35 kg (bridging therapy): 1 tablet PO daily to replace one every-2-month injection as bridging therapy for patients who plan to miss cabotegravir injection by more than 7 days. Start first dose of bridging ther apy 2 months after final cabotegravir injection dose and continue until or within 3 days af ter injections are restarted. An alternative oral PrEP regimen is recommended when duration exceeds 2 months. ➤ PrEP to reduce risk of sexually acquired HIV-1 infection in patients at risk, with or without an oral lead-in with oral cabote gravir Adults and adolescents weighing at least 35 kg: Initially, 600 mg IM on the last day of or within 3 days after oral lead-in therapy (if used), followed by a second injection 1 month later. Continue with injections every 2 months thereafter. ADMINISTRATION • Boxed Warning Don’t initiate drug for PrEP unless negative infection status is confirmed. PO • Give at same time each day with food. • Give missed dose as soon as possible. • Store tablets below 86 ◦ F(30 ◦ C).

Copyright © 2025 Wolters Kluwer, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this content is prohibited.

Reactions in bold italics are life-threatening .