Drug interactions
Cabotegravir + Oxcarbazepine
Severity: Contraindicated
Cabotegravir and Oxcarbazepine: contraindicated interaction.
Last updated
For healthcare professionals — reference only. This page is a brief summary, not medical advice and not a substitute for official labeling or clinical judgement. Always verify before prescribing or dispensing.
Summary
Oxcarbazepine may significantly lower cabotegravir concentrations, particularly with long-acting injectable therapy. This can cause loss of viral suppression and integrase resistance.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cabotegravir and Oxcarbazepine are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two.
Cabotegravir belongs to Anti Virals; Oxcarbazepine belongs to Central Nervous System.
Why it happens
Oxcarbazepine induces UGT1A1 (and possibly UGT1A9), increasing cabotegravir glucuronidation.
What to do
Do not coadminister; use a non-inducing antiseizure drug such as levetiracetam if possible. Otherwise select a different antiretroviral regimen.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Is there an alternative to one of these two medicines for me?
- If both are essential, who is monitoring me and how often?
- Which symptoms mean I should stop and seek help straight away?
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Other interactions of Cabotegravir
- Apalutamide + Cabotegravir Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Phenobarbitone Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Rifabutin Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Rifampicin Contraindicated
Other interactions of Oxcarbazepine
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cabotegravir with Oxcarbazepine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as contraindicated. Cabotegravir and Oxcarbazepine are not normally used together. Taking them at the same time is expected to cause harm or make one of them unsafe, so a different medicine is usually chosen for one of the two. Oxcarbazepine may significantly lower cabotegravir concentrations, particularly with long-acting injectable therapy. This can cause loss of viral suppression and integrase resistance.
How serious is the interaction between Cabotegravir and Oxcarbazepine?
MediHelp rates it contraindicated, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not coadminister; use a non-inducing antiseizure drug such as levetiracetam if possible. Otherwise select a different antiretroviral regimen.
What other medicines interact with Cabotegravir?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Cabotegravir with, for example, Apalutamide, Carbamazepine, Phenobarbitone. The full list is on the Cabotegravir page.
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