CABENUVA referral intake in NYC

Cabenuva referral and alternative-site coordination

A useful referral includes the responsible HIV clinician, eligibility decision, current regimen, resistance and viral-load records, prescription, target dates and laboratory plan. Confirm how medication is obtained and who verifies receipt. If an alternative site of care gives the injections, it should return administration dates and report missed visits or reactions to the HIV clinician. It does not take over regimen management simply by administering a dose. Keep current ART until the clinician's transition instructions take effect. Before attending, confirm authorization, supply and the appointment rather than assuming a submitted referral has completed every step.

Cabenuva HIV treatment injections

Cabenuva is a complete injectable regimen of cabotegravir and rilpivirine used to replace an existing HIV-1 treatment regimen in eligible people whose virus is already suppressed. It is HIV treatment, not PrEP. A professional gives two injections into gluteal muscles at scheduled visits. Fewer daily pills can be helpful, but maintaining suppression still depends on attendance, laboratory monitoring and an uninterrupted treatment plan if injections stop.

Eligibility: Cabenuva HIV treatment injections

The labeled indication includes adults and adolescents aged 12 or older who weigh at least 35 kg and have HIV RNA below 50 copies/mL on a stable regimen. It also requires no history of treatment failure and no known or suspected resistance to either medicine. The HIV clinician reviews prior regimens and resistance records, rather than relying on one recent viral-load result. Hepatitis B, pregnancy, interacting medicines, liver disease and ability to attend visits also affect the decision. Cabenuva does not treat hepatitis B.

What to expect: Cabenuva HIV treatment injections

Review the HIV treatment record

The clinician responsible for HIV care confirms suppression, treatment history and suitability. Do not stop current tablets while a referral, authorization or delivery is pending.

Choose the regimen and transition

Monthly and every-two-month injection schedules are available. An oral lead-in with both medicines is optional. The every-two-month pathway begins with two initiation visits one month apart before moving to the continuing calendar.

Coordinate the administration site

A referring HIV office and an alternative site of care may have different roles. Confirm the prescription, supply route, target date, labs, injection record and where urgent questions go. The administration site does not replace the HIV clinician who manages the regimen.

Monitor after the switch

Arrange viral-load testing after the change and continuing treatment-safety review. The team needs a plan for travel, delays, side effects and return to another suppressive regimen if needed.

Preparing for your appointment

Bring a complete medicine list, prior ART and resistance records, recent viral-load results and any hepatitis B history. Include acid-reducing medicines if oral rilpivirine is considered, because tablet interactions differ from injection interactions. Confirm who orders and receives labs, who authorizes oral coverage for a missed visit and who can reschedule you. Book the next target date before leaving when possible.

Risks and when to seek help

Pain or swelling at injection sites is common. Severe allergy, jaundice or a significant mood change needs prompt assessment. Rare serious reactions can occur shortly after rilpivirine injection, so the administration team follows the label’s observation instructions. Report breathing difficulty, chest symptoms or fainting immediately. Medicines for seizures, TB and other conditions, including some supplements, can make Cabenuva unsuitable; do not start them without coordinated review.

Follow-up and treatment review

The schedule is monthly or every two calendar months, not a freely interchangeable eight-week interval. Tell both the HIV clinician and administration team immediately if a visit may be more than seven days late. Oral coverage or a different injection restart may be needed. If Cabenuva stops, another fully suppressive regimen must start on the label’s timeline: no later than one month after the final monthly injections or two months after the final every-two-month injections. Viral-load follow-up remains necessary.

Appointments, costs and coverage

Ask about approval for both injectable drugs, administration fees, laboratory charges and the exact site. A locator entry, referral or authorization alone does not show that medication has arrived or an appointment is booked. Confirm these steps while continuing the agreed HIV regimen. Contact the responsible HIV clinician for treatment decisions, including any detectable viral-load result after switching.

Medical sources

• Cabenuva US prescribing and patient information
• NIH cabotegravir/rilpivirine patient drug record
• NIH HIV RNA and CD4 monitoring
• NIH antiretroviral drug characteristics
• VA undetectable viral load guidance