Long-acting HIV treatment replaces daily oral medications. Right now, the only complete, FDA approved long-acting HIV treatment consists of two injections given monthly or every other month. The injections are given in your gluteal muscle (butt) by your medical provider. After the injections, the medications are slowly released over time to ensure there is the right amount of medication to keep you virally suppressed until your next injection.

Long-acting injectable treatment works just like oral pills by stopping HIV from making copies of itself. It will keep your viral load low to undetectable. It is important to attend every injection visit on time to maintain effective drug levels.

The long-acting injectable treatment currently available contains two long-acting injectable drugs: cabotegravir and rilpivirine (brand name: Cabenuva®).

The most common side effects of long-acting injectable treatment are from the injection itself: pain, tenderness, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, and warmth where you get the injections. Patients report that these side effects tend to be mild and decrease over time.

Some patients have had fever, nausea, headache, tiredness, sleep problems, dizziness, or muscle or bone pain.

If you get a rash, contact your medical provider immediately.

There are potential risks for treatment failure, even if you get all of your injections. Just like with oral medication, this treatment will not work for everyone. If this treatment does not work for you, there is a risk of developing resistance, which could limit which HIV treatments work for you in the future. Your HIV care team will monitor your labs to make sure you have the care that you need.

Your out-of-pocket costs for long-acting injectable treatment will depend on whether you have health insurance and your specific health insurance plan. If you do not have health insurance, Medicaid, the Uninsured Care Programs AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), ViiVConnect, and other agencies can help cover the cost of the medication. Your HIV care team can help you understand the costs of being on this treatment.

Equity – We ask all people with HIV the same questions no matter who they are or how they look. Many people with HIV can benefit from long acting HIV treatment and our goal is to provide education to everyone and promote agency.

Privacy – Your information is safe, and we won’t share it with anyone, unless you want to share it with your care team!

Efficiency – You can answer these questions while you are waiting to be seen by your HIV care team. Using this tool and answering these questions will not make your visit longer!

Autonomy – Giving you the information you need to make an informed decision is our #1 priority. You and your HIV care team will work together to decide which treatment option is the best for you.