Before starting Apretude, you must test HIV-negative. Some tests may not detect very recent infections, so let your provider know if you’ve had flu-like symptoms in the past month (e.g., fever, fatigue, muscle aches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes, rash, night sweats). These could be early signs of HIV.
Protection: Apretude protects against HIV, but not other STIs like gonorrhea, chlamydia, or syphilis. Using condoms and regular STI testing are still recommended.
Adherence: Missing or delaying injections can lead to low drug levels, which increases the risk of getting HIV and may cause the virus to become resistant to medication. Always attend your injection appointments on time and talk to your care team if you’re running late or need to reschedule.
Drug Interactions: Tell your provider about all medications, vitamins, and supplements you take. Certain drugs — including rifampin, rifapentine, phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine — can interfere with how Apretude works and may make it less effective.
Common Side Effects
Injection site reactions: pain, swelling, redness, warmth, bruising, itching, tenderness, lumps, numbness, or skin discoloration
Fatigue, fever, headaches
Nausea, diarrhea
Dizziness, insomnia
Weight gain (uncommon)
Rare but Serious
Liver injury (hepatotoxicity)
Severe muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis)
Even with perfect use, HIV infection is still possible in rare cases
Allergic reactions – seek emergency help for rash, fever, mouth sores, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, or tongue