Yeztugo (Lenacapavir) Guide: Side Effects and Safety Info
Yeztugo (lenacapavir) is a brand-name drug prescribed for PrEP (to help prevent HIV-1 transmission through sex). Yeztugo is for adults and teenagers who weigh at least 35 kilograms (about 77 pounds). Following the initial start-up period of tablets and shots, Yeztugo is an injection that you receive once every 6 months.
Yeztugo has a boxed warning for the risk of drug resistance if used for PrEP in people who have HIV. A boxed warning is the most serious warning from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It alerts doctors and patients about drug effects that may be dangerous.
If you have HIV (whether you’re aware of it or not) and you take Yeztugo, the virus can become resistant to the drug. This means the virus learns how to fight Yeztugo, making your HIV much more difficult to treat in the future.
A healthcare professional will test you for HIV before every 6-month Yeztugo injection. You cannot start Yeztugo unless a test confirms you do not have HIV-1.
Yeztugo is a long-acting medication, which means it stays in your body for 12 months or more following your last shot. Because of this, it’s critical that you do not miss your 6-month appointments. If you do, the level of Yeztugo in your system could drop too low to protect you, potentially causing the HIV virus to become resistant to it.
Yeztugo injections must be given by a healthcare professional into the fat just under your skin (subcutaneously). If the drug is injected into deeper layers of skin, it could cause severe damage, including ulcers (open sores) or tissue death (necrosis).
Yeztugo only helps to prevent HIV. It does not protect you from other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, or syphilis.
Yeztugo can interact with many other drugs. Because it stays in your body for such an extended period, it can continue to affect how other medications work for 12 months or longer following your last injection. Be sure to tell your doctor about all drugs, vitamins, and supplements you take.
Yeztugo can cause a number of adverse reactions. The most common side effects reported in the drug’s clinical trials include:
For more information about these side effects, see the “Side effect specifics” section.
Other, less common side effects of Yeztugo include vomiting, diarrhea, and dizziness.
Note: For some people, Yeztugo could cause an allergic reaction, but this was not reported in the drug’s clinical trials.
If you contract HIV during treatment with Yeztugo: You must stop using the drug for PrEP and immediately start a full, multi-drug HIV treatment regimen to prevent the virus from becoming drug resistant.
If you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy: Talk with your doctor before starting or continuing this medication. While clinical trials did not show a high risk of problems with fetal development (commonly known as birth defects) there weren’t many pregnant people in these studies. It’s also important to note that Yeztugo can stay in your body for 12 months or longer after your last dose.
If you do become pregnant during treatment with Yeztugo, consider signing up for the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry. This registry monitors pregnancy outcomes in people exposed to Yeztugo during pregnancy. Your doctor can register you by calling 800-258-4263.
If you’re breastfeeding or considering it: Talk with you doctor about your treatment options. It isn’t known if Yeztugo is safe to receive while breastfeeding, but the drug does pass into human breast milk in small quantities.
Most people who receive Yeztugo injections experience one or more side effects.
Between 69% and 83% of people receiving Yeztugo injections in the drug’s clinical trials had some form of reaction at the injection site. These include a hardened area of skin or small lump. You may also experience redness or other discoloration, warmth, itchiness, pain, or bruising.
Most of these reactions go away on their own within a few days of the injection, though the bumps (nodules) can sometimes last up to a year or more.
In Yeztugo’s studies, up to 11% of people reported nausea and up to 8% of people reported headache following injections.
For the tablet doses, taking them with food may help you avoid an upset stomach. (Yeztugo tablets can otherwise be taken with or without food.) And you can try over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen for post-injection headaches.
If these, or any other side effects you experience from Yeztugo, are ongoing or bothersome, talk with your doctor about ways to manage them. If you experience any severe symptoms, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Disclaimer: While Medical News Today strives for factual, comprehensive, and current information, this article is not a substitute for a licensed healthcare professional’s expertise. Always consult a doctor before taking or discontinuing any medication. Drug information is subject to change and may not cover all uses, directions, precautions, warnings, interactions, reactions, or adverse effects. The lack of a warning does not guarantee a drug’s safety, effectiveness, or appropriateness for all patients or specific uses. Learn more about our approach to content integrity.