Apretude is administered via intramuscular (IM) injection into the buttock by a healthcare provider.
Starting Treatment
- (Optional) Oral Lead-In
- Some individuals may start with 30mg oral cabotegravir once daily for 30 days to assess tolerance.
- First Injection (Loading Dose):
- After the optional oral lead-in or directly, you’ll receive your first 600mg injection (3mL) into the gluteal muscle (buttock).
- Second Injection (Follow up Dose):
- Given 1 month after your first injection
Ongoing Treatment
- Every 2 months
- After the first two injections, you’ll receive a dose every 2 months on a “target” date.
- These are called “maintenance injections” and are key to staying protected against HIV.
It's crucial to receive injections within a 7-day window of the scheduled date to maintain effectiveness. That means 7 days before or 7 days after your target date.