dolutegravir/lamivudine vs phenobarbital
Side-by-side comparison of dolutegravir/lamivudine and phenobarbital. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Anticonvulsants: Oxcarbazepine Phenytoin Phenobarbital ↓Dolutegravir Avoid coadministration with DOVATO because there are insufficient data to make dosing recommendations.
Recommendation: This combination should be avoided because there is not enough research to provide a safe dosing plan.
Dovato
Luminal
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.
Phenobarbital is a medicine that can help control seizures and calm you down. It belongs to a class of drugs called barbiturates.
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.
This medicine is used to treat generalized and partial seizures. Seizures are caused by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Phenobarbital helps to reduce this activity and prevent seizures.
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.
Phenobarbital works by slowing down the activity of your brain and nervous system. It increases the effects of a natural chemical in the body called GABA. This helps to reduce seizures and promote relaxation.
- • Headache
- • Nausea
- • Diarrhea
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- • Tiredness (fatigue)
- • Drowsiness
- • Sedation
- • Lethargy
- • Vertigo
- Pain 1,425
- Anxiety 1,051
- Emotional Distress 1,048
- Anhedonia 942
- Chronic Kidney Disease 701
- Seizure 1,534
- Medicine interacting with another medicine 635
- Poisoning from different things 621
- Prolonged seizure 482
- Not responding to multiple medicines 442
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.
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to barbiturates. Also, do not take it if you have a history of porphyria, severe liver problems, or breathing problems.
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.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Phenobarbital can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking this medicine while breastfeeding.
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How to Read This dolutegravir/lamivudine vs phenobarbital Comparison
dolutegravir/lamivudine is classified in the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination drug class, while phenobarbital sits within the Anticonvulsant (Barbiturate) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. 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, dolutegravir/lamivudine has 5,167 submissions while phenobarbital has 3,714. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to phenobarbital speeds up the breakdown of dolutegravir in your system, which can prevent the medication from working properly.. 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 dolutegravir/lamivudine and phenobarbital - 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.