dolutegravir vs metformin/pioglitazone

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Side-by-side comparison of dolutegravir and metformin/pioglitazone. 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

( 7.3 ) Drugs that reduce metformin clearance (such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine), may increase the accumulation of metformin. 7.4 Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Concomitant use of drugs that interfere with common renal tubular transport systems involved in the renal elimination of metformin (e.g., organic cationic transporter-2 [OCT2]/multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitors such as ranolazine, vandetanib, dolutegravir, and cimetidine) could increase systemic exposure to metformin and may increase the risk for lactic acidosis [see Clinical...

Drug Class
dolutegravir Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor
metformin/pioglitazone Biguanide / TZD Combination
Type
dolutegravir Prescription
metformin/pioglitazone 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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met is a drug that combines two medicines to help control blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It should be used with diet and exercise.

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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met helps lower blood sugar in adults who have type 2 diabetes. You should also follow a diet and exercise plan while taking this medicine. Actoplus Met is not for people with type 1 diabetes or diabetic ketoacidosis.

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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met contains pioglitazone and metformin. Pioglitazone makes your body more sensitive to insulin. Metformin reduces the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood.

Common Side Effects
dolutegravir
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
metformin/pioglitazone
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Swelling
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Weight gain
FAERS Reports
dolutegravir
  • Pain 1,425
  • Anxiety 1,051
  • Emotional Distress 1,048
  • Anhedonia 942
  • Chronic Kidney Disease 701
metformin/pioglitazone
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 21,946
  • Loose or watery stools 21,887
  • High blood sugar 18,329
  • Feeling tired 17,252
  • Sudden kidney damage 16,440
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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Actoplus Met can cause or worsen heart failure in some people. Watch for signs like rapid weight gain, shortness of breath, and swelling. This medicine can also cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. Get medical help right away if you have symptoms like feeling very weak, muscle pain, trouble breathing, or stomach pain.

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.

metformin/pioglitazone

Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if Actoplus Met will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

How to Read This dolutegravir vs metformin/pioglitazone Comparison

dolutegravir is classified in the Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor drug class, while metformin/pioglitazone sits within the Biguanide / TZD 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 metformin/pioglitazone has 95,854. 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 dolutegravir interferes with how your kidneys remove metformin from your body, causing the drug to stay in your system longer. this can lead to a dangerous buildup of acid in your blood.. 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 metformin/pioglitazone.

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