What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Cabotegravir and rifabutin
Cabotegravir's FDA label of April 11, 2025 names rifabutin in its drug interactions section; the rifabutin label PlainMeds reads does not name cabotegravir. The cabotegravir label: “PrEP = Pre-exposure prophylaxis. a Rifabutin can be coadministered with cabotegravir; however, it is contraindicated with CABENUVA for HIV-1 treatment.”
Check it at the source: the cabotegravir FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 11, 2025, ViiV Healthcare Company); the rifabutin FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 1, 2026, REMEDYREPACK INC.).
What does the cabotegravir label say about rifabutin?
Cabotegravir label, drug interactionsConcomitant Drug Class/Drug Name: Antimycobacterial: Rifabutin; Effect on Concentration: ↓Cabotegravir; Clinical Comment: When rifabutin is started before or concomitantly with the first initiation injection of APRETUDE, the recommended dosing of APRETUDE is one 600-mg (3-mL) injection, followed 2 weeks later by a second 600-mg (3-mL) initiation injection and monthly thereafter while on rifabutin. When rifabutin is started at the time of the second initiation injection or later, the recommended dosing schedule of APRETUDE is 600-mg (3 mL) monthly while on rifabutin. After stopping rifabutin, the recommended dosing schedule of APRETUDE is 600-mg (3 mL) every 2 months.
Vocabria label (ViiV Healthcare Company, April 11, 2025), contraindicationsCarbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin o Antimycobacterials: Rifampin, rifapentine Prior to initiation of VOCABRIA, note that use of CABENUVA (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension; rilpivirine extended-release injectable suspension) with rifabutin is contraindicated.
Vocabria label (ViiV Healthcare Company, April 11, 2025), drug interactionsPrEP = Pre-exposure prophylaxis. a Rifabutin can be coadministered with cabotegravir; however, it is contraindicated with CABENUVA for HIV-1 treatment.
Source: FDA drug label (Vocabria, NDA212887), ViiV Healthcare Company, effective April 11, 2025 (SPL set 66d450fb-cca4-476c-b0c7-c0730e3e4cf3), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Apretude), ViiV Healthcare Company, effective April 11, 2025 (SPL set 4338428e-43d4-4e02-ac9d-bd98e738a7da), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the rifabutin label say about cabotegravir?
Rifabutin's label (effective September 1, 2026) does not name cabotegravir in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Rifabutin), NDA050689 (Pfizer), as published by REMEDYREPACK INC., effective September 1, 2026 (SPL set 25a60937-cbbe-4a50-994f-2ce15203f589), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Cabotegravir | Rifabutin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | HIV | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | No |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | $8.14 per capsule 150 mg capsule |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once