Prescription medication · Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor

dolutegravir

Also sold as Tivicay. TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Data updated 2026-05-15

8,756
FDA reportsLightly reported
28
InteractionsSeveral interactions
$73.02
Brand price (NADAC)

What the data shows

dolutegravir (Tivicay) is a prescription Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor, reported less often than most tracked drugs (8,756 FDA reports), with 28 documented drug interactions.

Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.

dolutegravir (Tivicay) is a prescription Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor. TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

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.

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Brand Price

$73.02/unit

Generic Available

No

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Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

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What it does

TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.

Common side effects

Trouble sleeping (insomnia), Headache, Feeling tired

Key warnings

TRIUMEQ can cause serious allergic reactions.

The sections below are summarized in plain English from dolutegravir's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.

How It Works

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.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 8,756 FDA adverse event reports.

Most-reported reactions

Adverse reactions in FAERS for dolutegravir, by number of reports

reports

What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.

Source FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) As of 2025

Reports over time

Adverse-event reports filed for dolutegravir each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).

05001,0001,500 20102013201520172019202120232025 468

Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.

Where dolutegravir sits

dolutegravir has more FDA adverse-event reports than 36% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.

fewest reports most reports

Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is dolutegravir; the line is the median (50th percentile).

FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis

Detailed analysis of 8,756 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2010–2025.

Total Reports

8,756

Reports Mentioning Death

865

9.9% of reports — not proof of cause

Hospitalization Reports

1,908

Top Indication

Hiv Infection

Gender Distribution

Female 2,600 (35%)
Male 4,713 (64%)

Age Distribution

0–17 224
18–44 1,839
45–64 2,345
65–74 467
75+ 92

Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)

# Reaction Reports
1 PAIN 1,425
2 ANXIETY 1,051
3 EMOTIONAL DISTRESS 1,048
4 ANHEDONIA 942
5 CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 701
6 FATIGUE 628
7 EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY 606
8 HEADACHE 566
10 RENAL FAILURE 539
11 RASH 487
12 FOETAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY 478
13 PYREXIA 445
14 HYPERTENSION 428
15 OSTEOPOROSIS 425
17 DEPRESSION 406

Reactions in Death Reports

DEATH 390
PAIN 149
FOETAL DEATH 141
FATIGUE 130
PYREXIA 130
THROMBOCYTOPENIA 126
HEPATIC ENZYME INCREASED 125
OVERDOSE 116
EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY 115
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 114

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

PAIN 307
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS 276
ANXIETY 273
ANHEDONIA 244
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 220
RENAL FAILURE 213
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 190
HOSPITALISATION 155
FATIGUE 147
END STAGE RENAL DISEASE 121

Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation

Serious Warnings

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.

Known Drug Interactions

Dolutegravir may increase plasma concentrations of drugs eliminated via OCT2 or MATE1 (dofetilide, dalfampridine, and metformin) [see Contraindications ( 4 ), Drug Interactions ( 7.3 )] . Other Agents Antiarrhythmic: Dofetilide ↑Dofetilide Coadministration is contraindicated with TRIUMEQ and TRIUMEQ PD [see Contraindications ( 4 )] .

Mechanism: Dolutegravir blocks the proteins in the kidneys that normally help remove dofetilide from the body. This causes the levels of dofetilide in your blood to rise.

Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact 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 Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Mechanism: Dolutegravir blocks the kidneys from removing metformin from the body. This can cause metformin levels to rise, which increases the risk of a serious condition called lactic acidosis.

Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact 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 Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Mechanism: Dolutegravir blocks the kidneys from filtering metformin out of your blood, which makes metformin levels rise. Higher levels of metformin increase the risk of a serious health problem called lactic acidosis.

Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact: The risk of lactic acidosis may increase due to 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) which increase systemic exposure to metformin Intervention Consider the benefits and risks of concomitant use.

Mechanism: Dolutegravir blocks the kidneys from removing metformin from the body, which causes metformin levels to rise and increases the risk of side effects.

moderate linagliptin

Drugs that Reduce Metformin Clearance Clinical Impact 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 Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Mechanism: Dolutegravir prevents your kidneys from removing metformin from your body. This can cause the drug to build up and increase the risk of a serious condition called lactic acidosis.

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This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.

Common Questions

Can I take TRIUMEQ if I am allergic to any of its ingredients?
No, you should not take TRIUMEQ if you are allergic to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine.
Can I take TRIUMEQ if I have liver problems?
You should not take TRIUMEQ if you have moderate or severe liver problems.
What should I do if I think I am having an allergic reaction to TRIUMEQ?
Stop taking TRIUMEQ immediately and seek medical attention.
Can TRIUMEQ cure HIV?
No, TRIUMEQ does not cure HIV, but it can help control the virus.
Will TRIUMEQ prevent me from spreading HIV to others?
TRIUMEQ can reduce your risk of spreading HIV, but it is still important to practice safe sex.
Can I take TRIUMEQ with other medications?
Some medications can interact with TRIUMEQ. Tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking.
How often should I see my doctor while taking TRIUMEQ?
You should see your doctor regularly to monitor your HIV and overall health.
What tests should I have before starting TRIUMEQ?
You should be tested for the HLA-B*5701 gene and hepatitis B virus (HBV) before starting TRIUMEQ.
Can I switch between TRIUMEQ tablets and TRIUMEQ PD tablets?
No, do not substitute TRIUMEQ tablets and TRIUMEQ PD tablets for oral suspension on a milligram-per-milligram basis.
What do I do if I cannot swallow the TRIUMEQ tablet?
Talk to your doctor about whether TRIUMEQ PD tablets for oral suspension are right for you.
What are the common side effects of dolutegravir?
The registry lists Trouble sleeping (insomnia), Headache, Feeling tired among the most-reported FAERS reaction terms for dolutegravir. The compiled record contains 8,756 FDA adverse-event reports. These counts are not an individual symptom assessment.
Does dolutegravir interact with other medications?
The registry has 28 documented interaction rows for dolutegravir. Notable source-record pairings include dofetilide, empagliflozin, empagliflozin/linagliptin. These rows are not a complete medication review.
What drug class is dolutegravir?
dolutegravir belongs to the Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS.
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for dolutegravir?
The FDA label for dolutegravir contains product-specific pregnancy or breastfeeding language. PlainMeds does not apply that source text to an individual.

Other drugs grouped near dolutegravir - same-class peers and common alternatives.

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Compare beyond drug class

Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share

Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for dolutegravir: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.

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What the FDA Data Shows for dolutegravir

The FDA label for dolutegravir (sold under brand names such as Tivicay) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor class. TRIUMEQ treats HIV-1, the virus that causes AIDS. Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Trouble sleeping (insomnia), Headache, Feeling tired.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 8,756 voluntary reports. The database also lists 28 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS.

Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. This registry does not provide medication decisions.

Last updated: July 8, 2024

PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.

Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.

All federal data sources used on this page