Yeztugo: Dosage, side effects, uses, interactions, cost, and more

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Yeztugo as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to help prevent HIV. It’s prescribed for certain adults and adolescents who have not acquired HIV but are at risk of contracting it.

Yeztugo has a boxed warning. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see the “Yeztugo precautions” section.

Yeztugo is available only as a brand-name medication. It’s not currently available in generic form.

A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Both forms of Yeztuga are used together to start treatment. To learn more, see the “Dosage for HIV prevention (PrEP)” and “How it’s given” sections.

For PrEP, Yeztugo treatment begins with both oral tablets and injections given on the same days.

On day 1, you’ll receive 927 mg (2 injections) and take 600 mg (2 tablets) of Yeztugo. On day 2, you’ll take another 600 mg (2 tablets) of the drug.

After completing the starter doses, you’ll continue to receive 2 injections (totaling 927 mg) of Yeztugo once every 6 months. The tablets are only used at the beginning of treatment and are not continued with each injection.

Yeztugo is prescribed as PrEP for adolescents who weigh at least 35 kilograms (kg), which is about 77 pounds (lb).

For this use, the recommended dosage of Yeztugo is the same as for adults. For details, see the previous “Dosage for HIV prevention (PrEP)” section.

Yeztugo injections are administered subcutaneously under the skin of your abdomen or thigh. A healthcare professional will give the injection in a doctor’s office or clinic.

If you have questions about receiving Yeztugo, talk with your doctor.

Do not take more Yeztugo than your doctor recommends. For some drugs, doing so may lead to unwanted side effects or overdose.

If you think you’ve taken too much of this drug, call your doctor. You can also call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. However, if your symptoms are severe, call 911 or your local emergency number or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Yeztugo can cause mild to serious side effects. The following lists contain some of the key side effects that may occur while taking this medication, but do not include all possible side effects. For more information about the possible side effects of Yeztugo, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can give you tips on how to manage any side effects that may be concerning or bothersome.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while taking Yeztugo and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Here is a partial list of mild side effects of Yeztugo. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or view the drug’s prescribing information.

Most of these side effects may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. However, if they become more severe or don’t go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects from Yeztugo aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 or your local emergency phone number if your symptoms feel life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency.

* Yeztugo has a boxed warning for this side effect. This is the most serious warning from the FDA. To learn more, see the “Yeztugo precautions” section.

For some people, Yeztugo may cause an allergic reaction, but this side effect wasn’t reported in the drug’s clinical trials.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking Yeztugo.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Yeztugo, your doctor may recommend a different medication instead.

The following information describes the FDA-approved use for Yeztugo.

Yeztugo is approved for use as preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in adults and adolescents who weigh at least 35 kilograms (kg), which is about 77 pounds (lb).

PrEP is the use of medication to help prevent HIV. It’s prescribed for people who have not acquired HIV-1 but are at risk of contracting it through sexual activity.

For this purpose, Yeztugo is typically used along with other methods of HIV prevention. Examples include condoms or dental dams and limiting the number of sexual partners. Combining Yeztugo with these practices can help reduce the risk of HIV even further.

Doctors will test for HIV before each Yeztugo injection. They’ll only give the injection if the HIV test confirms a person does not have HIV. This is because Yeztugo has a boxed warning about the risk of drug resistance if used for PrEP in people with undiagnosed HIV. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the FDA. For details, see the “Yeztugo precautions” section.

To learn more about HIV, view our list of HIV articles.

Yeztugo is approved for use as PrEP in adolescents who weigh at least 35 kg (about 77 lb). For details about this use, see the “Yeztudo for HIV prevention (PrEP)” section.

To learn more about Yeztugo for adolescents, talk with your child’s doctor.

Yeztugo can interact with several other medications. However, the drug isn’t known to interact with any supplements or foods.

Before taking Yeztugo, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.

The following list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Yeztugo. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Alcohol is not known to interact with Yeztugo. If you have questions about the safety of consuming alcohol during Yeztugo treatment, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

As with all medications, the cost of Yeztugo can vary. The actual price you’ll pay depends on your insurance plan, your location, and the pharmacy you use.

Financial and insurance assistance: If you need financial support to pay for Yeztugo or help understanding your insurance coverage, a program called Gilead Advancing Access is available. For more information and to find out whether you’re eligible for support, call 800-226-2056 or visit the program website.

Generic version: Yeztugo is not available in a generic form. A generic drug contains an exact copy of the active ingredient in a brand-name medication but tends to cost less.

Other drugs are available that can be used as PrEP to help prevent HIV. Some may be a better fit for you than others. If you’re interested in finding an alternative to Yeztugo, talk with your doctor. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you.

If you can become pregnant, consider the following information about pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It’s not known for certain whether Yeztugo should be taken during pregnancy. If you’re planning a pregnancy or can become pregnant, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

If you become pregnant during Yeztugo treatment, you’re encouraged to enroll in the drug’s pregnancy registry by visiting the website or by calling 800-258-4263. You can also talk with your doctor.

It’s not known whether Yeztugo should be taken while breastfeeding. The drug may pass into breast milk but isn’t known to cause side effects in a child who is breastfed. If you’re currently breastfeeding or planning to do so, talk with your doctor before taking this medication.

Here is important information to consider before taking Yeztugo.

This drug has a boxed warning — the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.

Yeztugo carries a risk of drug resistance if used for PrEP in people with undiagnosed HIV. Drug resistance means that HIV medications may not work as well to treat this condition.

While Yeztugo is not approved to treat HIV, other forms of lenacapavir (Yeztugo’s active ingredient) are approved for this purpose. If Yeztugo is used by someone with undiagnosed HIV, the other forms of lenacapavir may be less effective for treatment later.

Doctors will test for HIV before each Yeztugo injection. They’ll only give the injection if the HIV test confirms a person does not have HIV.

If you have symptoms that could suggest HIV during Yeztugo treatment, contact your doctor right away. Examples include fever or chills, body aches, and fatigue.

If HIV is diagnosed while you’re taking Yeztugo, your doctor will have you stop the drug and start a different treatment for HIV.

To learn more about this warning, talk with your doctor.

Before taking Yeztugo, discuss your health history with your doctor. Yeztugo may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

Note: For more information about the potential negative effects of Yeztugo, see the “Yeztugo side effects” section.

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.