Dolutegravir is marketed under the name Tivicay. It is taken in combination with other antiretroviral drugs.

If you are taking dolutegravir with the anti-epilepsy drugs carbamazepine, fosphenytoin, phenobarbital or oxcarbazepine, the antibiotic rifampicin or St John’s wort, your dose of dolutegravir will be increased to 50mg twice a day.

You should not take antacids (used to treat indigestion and heartburn), calcium supplements, iron or zinc supplements or multivitamins, or medicine containing magnesium or aluminium for six hours before you take dolutegravir, or for at least two hours after taking dolutegravir.

Allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction (rash, fever, muscle pain, blistering), liver inflammation.

Nausea, diarrhoea, headache, rash, itching, vomiting, abdominal pain or discomfort, difficulty in sleeping, dizziness, abnormal dreams, fatigue, flatulence, increase in liver enzymes, increase in creatine phosphokinase (enzymes produced in the muscles).

An allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction has been reported in some people taking dolutegravir. This is rare, but you should see a doctor immediately if you think you are experiencing an allergic reaction. The symptoms are skin rash; fever; fatigue; swelling, sometimes of the face or mouth, causing breathing problems; muscle or joint aches.

Take the tablet with or without food, preferably in the morning. If you have some resistance to integrase inhibitors, you should take it with food. Dolutegravir tablets are small and may be a good option if you are having difficulty swallowing tablets.

The usual adult dose is one 50mg yellow tablet taken once a day. Dolutegravir should be taken twice a day if you have HIV known to be resistant to other integrase inhibitors. Dolutegravir is also available in the combination tablets Triumeq and Juluca.