Vocabria

What is Vocabria?

Vocabria, an antiviral drug, prevents the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying within your body. HIV is a virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency (AIDS).Vocabria is used in combination with another antiviral drug called rilpivirine to treat HIV among people aged 12 and older who weigh at least 77 lbs (35 kg). This medicine replaces the current HIV medication.Vocabria can also be used to reduce the risk of HIV infection for HIV-negative patients who weigh at least 77 pounds. Vocabria can only be used by HIV-negative people.

As a "lead in dose", Vocabria is given daily to determine if you are able to safely use the combination of these medications given as an injectable.If you are planning to miss more than seven days of an injection, Vocabria or rilpivirine can be used instead.

Vocabria or rilpivirine can be used by adults who have taken other antiviral HIV drugs and have successfully controlled their viral load. These medications are not a cure or treatment for HIV/AIDS.

Warnings

Inform your doctor of all the medications you are taking, as well as any new ones. Some drugs are not to be taken together, and others can cause drug interactions.

Before you take this drug

Vocabria should not be used if you have an allergy to cabotegravir.

Many drugs can cause harmful interactions. Vocabria should not be taken with certain drugs. If you are also taking

• Certain antibiotics—rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine,
• Seizure medicine: carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin.

Tell your doctor about any of the following to ensure that Vocabria will be safe for you:

• A skin rash or allergic reaction may occur after taking a medicine that contains cabotegravir.
• Liver disease
• Mental illness.

Inform your physician immediately if you intend to become pregnant. Cabotegravir may harm an unborn child, but this is unknown. HIV can pass to your unborn baby if you do not control the virus during pregnancy. You may have your name listed in a registry that tracks the effects of cabotegravir.

Breastfeeding is not recommended for women with HIV/AIDS. Even if the baby was born HIV-free, the virus can be transmitted to the infant through your breast milk.Vocabria should not be used by anyone under 12 years of age or who weighs less than 77 pounds.

How to take Vocabria?

Follow your doctor's instructions and take Vocabria exactly as prescribed. Read all the instructions on the prescription label.Vocabria tablets and rilpivirine are typically taken once daily for at least 28 days prior to switching to an injectable combination.Cabotegravir is injected once a month into your buttock muscle for the first two months. Then, it's injected once every two months.

Vocabria and rilpivirine should be taken with food. Take the medications at different times. You can take Vocabria with or without food.You will receive the first injection of these drugs on the last day that you have taken Vocabria or rilpivirine.Call your healthcare provider if you plan to miss more than seven days of an injection. Discuss your treatment options.

Vocabria or rilpivirine must be used under the supervision of a physician. To get the best results, stick to your schedule. Missing doses increase your risk of HIV resistance to medications.You will need to take other HIV medications if you decide to stop taking Vocabria or rilpivirine. This is to avoid your condition becoming resistant. Contact your healthcare provider immediately to discuss treatment options.

You may need to undergo frequent medical tests. Vocabria or rilpivirine may have long-lasting effects on your body. (Up to 12 months following your last dose) After stopping this medication, you may need to undergo medical tests.

Details on dosage

Adult dose for HIV infection:

30 mg once daily orally
Comments:
To be taken together with rilpivirine 25 mg tablets orally, once per day.
Oral lead-in should be used for about 1 month (at least 28 days) to assess the tolerability of cabotegravir before the initiation of cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM.
The last oral dose should be administered on the same day injections with cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM are started.
If a patient needs to miss their scheduled cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM injection by more than seven days, this medication can be combined with one daily rilpivirine tablet as a replacement. To 2 consecutive monthly injection visits.
Starting about one month after taking their last injection dose of cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM, oral therapy should be begun until dosing resumes again via subcutaneous injection.The manufacturer's product information for cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM should be consulted regarding the resumption of monthly injection dosing.
Uses: When combined with a rilpivirine tablet, short-term treatment for HIV-1 infection is given to patients who have a virologically suppressed HIV-1 infection (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/ml), are on a stable regimen of antiretroviral drugs, and do not have a history of treatment failure.
Oral lead-in to assess the tolerability of this drug before starting cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM
Oral therapy for patients who will miss planned injection dosing with cabotegravir-rilpivirine IM

What happens if I miss the dose?

Take the medication as soon as possible. Take no more than one dose at a time.Make sure to take all required doses and that you have enough tablets.If you missed a dose, call your doctor to get instructions.

What happens if I overdose?

Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.

What should be avoided?

The combination of rilpivirine and Vocabria is the complete treatment. Other HIV medications should only be taken if your doctor has prescribed them.

This medicine might not stop your illness from spreading. Share razors and toothbrushes. Consult your doctor about how to avoid HIV transmission while sexing. It is not safe to share syringes or needles for drugs or medicines.

Side effects of Vocabria

If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your lips, face, tongue, or throat,

If you experience any of these symptoms, stop using the medicine immediately and seek medical attention.

• Feeling unwell, fatigued, or fevered?
• Muscle or joint pain
• Blisters or sores around or in your mouth
• Red or puffy eyelids;
• You may have difficulty breathing if you experience swelling of the face or mouth.

Vocabria can cause serious side effects. If you experience:

• Unusual mood changes, such as feeling anxious, restless, or hopeless,
• Suicidal thoughts and actions
• Liver problem: loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting; stomach pain (upper-right side); dark urine; and clay-coloured stool. Jaundice.

Vocabria Side Effects:

• Nausea;
• Abnormal dreams;
• Feeling anxious
• Headache
• Sleep problems are a common problem.

There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.

Interaction with other drug

Vocabria can be less effective if you take antacids at the same time. Take an antacid at least two hours before or four hours after taking Vocabria.

Cabotegravir may also interact with other drugs, such as vitamins and herbal remedies. Inform your doctor of all the medicines you are currently taking and those that you will begin or stop using.