dolutegravir vs dolutegravir/lamivudine

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Side-by-side comparison of dolutegravir 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.

minor Known Drug Interaction

7.2 Potential for DOVATO to Affect Other Drugs Dolutegravir, a component of DOVATO, inhibits the renal organic cation transporters (OCT)2 and multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE)1; thus, it may increase plasma concentrations of drugs eliminated via OCT2 or MATE1 such as dofetilide, dalfampridine, and metformin [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Drug Interactions ( 7.4 ), Clinical Pharmacology ( 12.3 )]. 7.3 Potential for Other Drugs to Affect the Components of DOVATO Dolutegravir is metabolized by uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT)1A1 with some contribution...

Drug Class
dolutegravir Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor
dolutegravir/lamivudine Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination
Type
dolutegravir Prescription
dolutegravir/lamivudine Prescription
Summary
dolutegravir

TRIUMEQ is a drug that contains three medicines in one pill: dolutegravir, abacavir, and lamivudine. It is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children.

dolutegravir/lamivudine

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.

What It Treats
dolutegravir

TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. It helps to lower the amount of virus in your body. This medication can help your body fight infection and can improve your health.

dolutegravir/lamivudine

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.

How It Works
dolutegravir

TRIUMEQ contains three drugs that each work differently to stop HIV from multiplying. Dolutegravir is an integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI). Abacavir and lamivudine are nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors.

dolutegravir/lamivudine

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.

Common Side Effects
dolutegravir
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
dolutegravir/lamivudine
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Tiredness (fatigue)
FAERS Reports
dolutegravir
  • Pain 1,425
  • Anxiety 1,051
  • Emotional Distress 1,048
  • Anhedonia 942
  • Chronic Kidney Disease 701
dolutegravir/lamivudine
  • Pain 1,425
  • Anxiety 1,051
  • Emotional Distress 1,048
  • Anhedonia 942
  • Chronic Kidney Disease 701
Serious Warnings
dolutegravir

TRIUMEQ can cause serious allergic reactions. If you have a gene called HLA-B*5701, you are more likely to have an allergic reaction. You should be tested for this gene before taking TRIUMEQ. Symptoms can include fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain. Some people can also experience liver problems or a heart attack.

dolutegravir/lamivudine

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.

Pregnancy
dolutegravir

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. There is a pregnancy registry to monitor outcomes in people who take TRIUMEQ during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking TRIUMEQ during pregnancy.

dolutegravir/lamivudine

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This dolutegravir vs dolutegravir/lamivudine Comparison

dolutegravir is classified in the Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor drug class, while dolutegravir/lamivudine sits within the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination 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 has 5,167 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. These two drugs have a known minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to dolutegravir blocks the specific pathways in the kidneys used to remove certain medicines, which can cause those other drugs to build up in your body.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for dolutegravir or dolutegravir/lamivudine.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.