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dolutegravir vs prednisone

Side-by-side comparison of dolutegravir and prednisone. 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

Darunavir/ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, rilpivirine, tenofovir, boceprevir, prednisone, rifabutin, and omeprazole had no clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of dolutegravir.

Recommendation: No special changes are needed when taking these two drugs together.

Drug Class
dolutegravir Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor
prednisone Corticosteroid
Type
dolutegravir Prescription
prednisone 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.

prednisone

Prednisone is a steroid medicine that reduces inflammation in the body. It can treat many different conditions.

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.

prednisone

Prednisone treats conditions like arthritis, severe allergies, asthma, skin problems, and certain cancers. It can also help with lung diseases and problems with your hormone levels. Prednisone can also be used to reduce protein in the urine due to kidney problems.

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.

prednisone

Prednisone is a corticosteroid that works by decreasing inflammation. It suppresses your immune system, which reduces swelling and other immune responses. This helps control the symptoms of various diseases.

Common Side Effects
dolutegravir
  • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
  • Headache
  • Feeling tired
prednisone
  • Fluid retention
  • Mood changes
  • Weight gain
  • Increased appetite
  • High blood pressure
FAERS Reports
dolutegravir
  • Pain 1,425
  • Anxiety 1,051
  • Emotional Distress 1,048
  • Anhedonia 942
  • Chronic Kidney Disease 701
prednisone
  • Feeling tired 39,610
  • Aches and discomfort 36,922
  • Difficulty breathing 33,812
  • Joint pain 32,401
  • The condition got worse 27,785
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.

prednisone

If you take prednisone for a long time, your body may not produce enough of its own natural steroids. This can make it hard for your body to respond to stress, like during an illness or surgery. You should not stop taking prednisone suddenly, as this can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.

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.

prednisone

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. Prednisone may harm an unborn baby. It can also pass into breast milk and may affect the nursing infant.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This dolutegravir vs prednisone Comparison

dolutegravir is classified in the Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor drug class, while prednisone sits within the Corticosteroid 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 prednisone has 170,530. 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 prednisone does not change how the body handles dolutegravir.. 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 and prednisone - 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.