dolutegravir/lamivudine
Brand names: Dovato
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.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$96.17/unit
Generic Available
No
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Dovato is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents (12 years and older, weighing at least 55 pounds).
Common side effects
Headache, Nausea, Diarrhea
Key warnings
If you have both HIV-1 and hepatitis B, you should be tested for hepatitis B before starting Dovato.
How It Works
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.
How to Take It
Take one Dovato tablet once a day. You can take it with or without food. If you take carbamazepine or rifampin, you may need to take an extra 50mg dolutegravir tablet about 12 hours after taking Dovato. Do not crush, chew, or break the tablet.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
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.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of Dovato, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.
Storage
Store Dovato tablets below 86°F (30°C).
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 8,059 FDA adverse event reports.
Serious Warnings
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.
Known Drug Interactions
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 )]. Coadministered Drug Class: Drug Name Effect on Concentration Clinical Comment Antiarrhythmic: Dofetilide ↑Dofetilide Coadministration is contraindicated with DOVATO [see Contraindicat...
Mechanism: One of the medicines in this combination blocks the pathways your kidneys use to get rid of dofetilide. This can lead to dangerously high levels of dofetilide in your system.
What to do: This combination should not be used. Talk to your healthcare provider about using a different medication.
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 )]. Antidiabetic: Metformin a ↑Metformin Refer to the prescribing information for metformin for assessing the benefit and risk of concomitant use of DOVATO and metformin.
Mechanism: Dolutegravir blocks the proteins that help your kidneys remove metformin, which can lead to higher levels of metformin in your blood.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about the risks of this combination, as they may need to adjust your metformin treatment.
Anticonvulsants: Oxcarbazepine Phenytoin Phenobarbital ↓Dolutegravir Avoid coadministration with DOVATO because there are insufficient data to make dosing recommendations.
Mechanism: Oxcarbazepine lowers the amount of dolutegravir in your body, which could make your HIV treatment less effective.
What to do: You should avoid taking these two medications together because there is not enough information to determine a safe dose.
Anticonvulsants: Oxcarbazepine Phenytoin Phenobarbital ↓Dolutegravir Avoid coadministration with DOVATO because there are insufficient data to make dosing recommendations.
Mechanism: Phenytoin causes your body to clear dolutegravir more quickly, which reduces the amount of medicine available to fight the virus.
What to do: Avoid using these drugs at the same time since there are no clear instructions on how to adjust the dosage safely.
Anticonvulsants: Oxcarbazepine Phenytoin Phenobarbital ↓Dolutegravir Avoid coadministration with DOVATO because there are insufficient data to make dosing recommendations.
Mechanism: Phenobarbital speeds up the breakdown of dolutegravir in your system, which can prevent the medication from working properly.
What to do: This combination should be avoided because there is not enough research to provide a safe dosing plan.
Common Questions
Can I take Dovato with other HIV medicines?
What should I do if I have a rash after starting Dovato?
Can Dovato cause liver problems?
Is Dovato safe for people with kidney problems?
Is Dovato safe for people with liver problems?
Can Dovato interact with other medicines I am taking?
What if I am co-infected with HIV and Hepatitis B?
Can Dovato cause hypersensitivity reactions?
What are the ingredients in Dovato?
What does Dovato look like?
What are the common side effects of dolutegravir/lamivudine?
Does dolutegravir/lamivudine interact with other medications?
What drug class is dolutegravir/lamivudine?
Is dolutegravir/lamivudine safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination
Other drugs grouped near dolutegravir/lamivudine — same-class peers and common alternatives.
acyclovir
Zovirax
Acyclovir is an antiviral medicine.
Compare with dolutegravir/lamivudine →
albendazole
Albenza
Albendazole is a medicine that fights parasites.
Compare with dolutegravir/lamivudine →
amphotericin B
Ambisome, Fungizone
Amphotericin B liposome is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with dolutegravir/lamivudine →
anidulafungin
Eraxis
Eraxis is an antifungal medicine.
Compare with dolutegravir/lamivudine →
atovaquone/proguanil
Malarone
Malarone is a drug used to prevent and treat malaria.
Compare with dolutegravir/lamivudine →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
🩺 Find a Doctor
Search prescribers for Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination
🏨 Hospital Quality
CMS hospital ratings, safety scores & patient outcomes
💊 Supplement Data
NIH DSLD — check supplement ingredients & label claims
🍽️ Food Safety Alerts
FDA recalls, inspections & outbreak investigations
⚠️ Product Recalls
FDA, CPSC & NHTSA recall search
💉 Procedure Costs
Medicare procedure pricing for 9,297 procedures
Save on dolutegravir/lamivudine
Compare prices and find discounts at pharmacies near you. Free coupons can save up to 80% on prescriptions.
Disclosure: This link may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. See our terms.
What the FDA Data Shows for dolutegravir/lamivudine
The FDA label for dolutegravir/lamivudine (sold under brand names such as Dovato) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Integrase Inhibitor / NRTI Combination class. Dovato is used to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and adolescents (12 years and older, weighing at least 55 pounds). Official labeling lists 6 commonly reported side effects, including Headache, Nausea, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 8,059 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 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 further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
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. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: October 29, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages