The APRETUDE every-2-month workflow

Apretude visit calendar and delayed appointments

The first two Apretude injection appointments are one month apart; subsequent injections are every two months. Ask the team to give you the actual target dates and seven-day appointment window. HIV antigen/antibody and RNA testing accompany injection care, so changing the appointment can also change laboratory arrangements. Before travel, contact the prescriber with the departure and return dates. If a visit will be missed, a planned oral bridge may be appropriate; an unplanned delay needs reassessment and may change the restart injections. Do not assume you can simply move every later dose by the same number of days. Give the team your last injection date, any oral PrEP taken and intervening exposures. If a possible qualifying exposure occurred within 72 hours during a gap, seek urgent PEP assessment. Leave with the next appointment and a named contact for pending HIV results.

If an Apretude visit is missed

Contact the prescriber promptly with the last injection date, the target date, any oral PrEP and intervening exposures. The first two initiation injections and later maintenance injections have different restart pathways. A planned absence can sometimes use prescribed oral coverage; an unplanned delay requires reassessment of HIV status and whether restarting injections needs a different sequence. Do not assume leftover medicine gives complete protection or start a borrowed tablet regimen. For a qualifying exposure within 72 hours, seek urgent PEP assessment. Obtain the next injection and HIV-test dates and a prevention plan for the gap.

Apretude HIV prevention

Apretude is long-acting cabotegravir used to reduce the chance of acquiring HIV-1 through sex. It is for people who do not have HIV. A healthcare professional gives the injection into a gluteal muscle. It can reduce the burden of taking a daily pill, but it replaces that routine with scheduled injections and HIV testing. It does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections or pregnancy. Choosing it means planning both the first visits and what to do if travel, insurance or illness disrupts a later appointment.

Eligibility: Apretude HIV prevention

The US indication includes adults and adolescents who weigh at least 35 kg and are at risk of sexually acquired HIV. A clinician must confirm HIV-negative status and assess recent exposure and symptoms of acute HIV. Fever, rash, sore throat or swollen glands after a possible exposure need assessment even if a rapid test is negative. Apretude is not an adequate HIV treatment regimen. Relevant allergies, liver disease, pregnancy or breastfeeding, mental-health history and interacting medicines affect the discussion.

What to expect: Apretude HIV prevention

Assess prevention needs

Discuss exposure, previous PrEP, adherence, injection preferences and ability to return. If possible HIV exposure occurred within the last 72 hours, seek urgent PEP assessment instead of waiting for a routine PrEP visit.

Complete HIV and safety checks

The plan includes an HIV antigen/antibody test and HIV RNA testing before injections. A negative antigen/antibody result requires RNA confirmation, even when the RNA result returns after an injection. Unclear or discordant results require clinical review before proceeding.

Start and set the calendar

An oral cabotegravir lead-in may be offered to assess tolerability; it is optional. The first two injections are one month apart, followed by an injection every two months. Your team sets the target dates and explains the permitted appointment window.

Plan continuing care

Agree on STI screening, symptom contact, reminders and an alternative PrEP plan if injections stop. Bring up anticipated travel before a dose becomes overdue.

Preparing for your appointment

Bring your medication and supplement list, recent HIV results, dates of prior PrEP doses and information about insurance. Tell the clinician about medicines for seizures, TB or other infections: some reduce cabotegravir levels. Ask whether testing and injection happen at the same visit, who follows pending RNA results and when the next appointment is booked. These arrangements must be confirmed for your chosen location.

Risks and when to seek help

Injection-site pain and tenderness are common. Discuss symptom relief with your clinician rather than choosing medicines from a forum. Call 911 for trouble breathing, facial swelling, fainting or a severe allergic reaction. A severe rash needs immediate medical assessment. Report jaundice, dark urine or persistent severe symptoms promptly. Depression and suicidal thoughts have been reported with cabotegravir; contact a clinician promptly for a major mood change and call 911 or go to the emergency department for immediate danger. Do not self-inject Apretude or use leftover tablets to design a bridge.

Follow-up and treatment review

Continuing visits assess HIV status, exposure, adverse effects and STI prevention. Contact the prescribing team as soon as an appointment may be missed. Planned and unplanned delays have different label pathways; the team may prescribe oral coverage or change the restart schedule. After stopping, CDC recommends continuing HIV antigen/antibody and RNA testing every three months for 12 months. Another effective prevention method may be needed before protection wanes.

Appointments, costs and coverage

An evaluation, authorization and an injection appointment are separate steps. Ask about the medication benefit, administration fee, laboratory charges, supply route and the site that will actually administer it. Confirm these details before visiting and keep an agreed prevention plan while access is arranged.

Medical sources

• Apretude US prescribing and patient information
• NIH cabotegravir patient drug record
• CDC clinical guidance for PrEP
• CDC HIV testing
• CDC PEP clinical guidance
• Yeztugo US prescribing information
• Recognizing medical emergencies: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia