bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs dolutegravir/lamivudine
Side-by-side comparison of bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir and dolutegravir/lamivudine Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Biktarvy
Dovato
Biktarvy is a complete HIV-1 treatment for adults and children who weigh at least 31 pounds. It combines three medicines into one tablet to help control the virus.
Dovato is a complete HIV-1 treatment that combines two medicines into one tablet. It is used for adults and adolescents who weigh at least 55 pounds.
Biktarvy treats Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) in adults and children weighing at least 31 pounds. It can be used if you have never taken HIV medicine before. It can also replace your current HIV medicine if your virus is under control and you have no resistance to Biktarvy's components.
Dovato is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents (12 years and older, weighing at least 55 pounds). It can be used if you have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. It can also be used to replace your current HIV-1 medicines if your virus is under control (HIV-1 RNA less than 50 copies/mL) and you have not had treatment failure or resistance to the medicines in Dovato.
Biktarvy contains three drugs that each block HIV in different ways. Bictegravir stops HIV from inserting its DNA into your cells. Emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide interfere with an enzyme HIV needs to make copies of itself.
Dovato contains two drugs: dolutegravir and lamivudine. Dolutegravir blocks HIV-1 integrase, an enzyme the virus needs to multiply. Lamivudine blocks reverse transcriptase, another enzyme HIV-1 needs to make copies of itself.
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Headache
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- • Tiredness (fatigue)
No adverse event reports.
- Pain 1,425
- Anxiety 1,051
- Emotional Distress 1,048
- Anhedonia 942
- Chronic Kidney Disease 701
If you have both HIV and hepatitis B, stopping Biktarvy can cause your hepatitis B to suddenly get worse. Your doctor will need to monitor your liver closely for several months after you stop taking Biktarvy. You may need to take medicine for hepatitis B.
If you have both HIV-1 and hepatitis B, you should be tested for hepatitis B before starting Dovato. Using Dovato can cause the hepatitis B virus to become resistant to lamivudine. Stopping Dovato can also cause a severe worsening of hepatitis B. Your liver function should be checked regularly.
There is a pregnancy registry to track outcomes in women who take Biktarvy during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Biktarvy if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. There is not enough data to assess the risk of major birth defects.
There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in people exposed to Dovato during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There may be a risk of neural tube defects if dolutegravir is taken at the time of conception.
How to Read This bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir vs dolutegravir/lamivudine Comparison
bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir is classified in the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination drug class, while dolutegravir/lamivudine sits within the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir has 0 submissions while dolutegravir/lamivudine has 5,167. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir and dolutegravir/lamivudine — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.