Drug interactions
Cabotegravir + Zidovudine
Severity: Moderate
Cabotegravir and Zidovudine: moderate 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
Cabotegravir with rilpivirine is a complete, long-acting regimen, and adding zidovudine is not part of the approved use. Combining them provides no recognised benefit and adds toxicity such as bone marrow suppression.
What this interaction means in plain words
Cabotegravir and Zidovudine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken.
Cabotegravir belongs to Anti Virals; Zidovudine belongs to Anti Virals.
Why it happens
No pharmacokinetic interaction is established; the concern is duplicate antiretroviral therapy and additive adverse effects.
What to do
Do not use zidovudine alongside long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine unless a specialist guides a specific regimen; monitor blood counts if combined.
What to ask your pharmacist
- Should I take them at different times of day?
- Does the dose of either medicine need to change?
- Is there anything I should avoid, such as alcohol or certain foods, while on both?
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Other interactions of Zidovudine
- Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df + Zidovudine Contraindicated
- Stavudine + Zidovudine Contraindicated
- Atidarsagene autotemcel + Zidovudine Major
- Betibeglogene autotemcel + Zidovudine Major
- Carboplatin + Zidovudine Major
- Cisplatin + Zidovudine Major
Other interactions of Cabotegravir
- Apalutamide + Cabotegravir Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Carbamazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Oxcarbazepine Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Phenobarbitone Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Phenytoin Contraindicated
- Cabotegravir + Rifabutin Contraindicated
Frequently asked questions
Can I take Cabotegravir with Zidovudine?
MediHelp rates the interaction as moderate. Cabotegravir and Zidovudine can affect each other. The combination is often manageable, but it may need a change of dose, a change of timing, or extra checks while both are taken. Cabotegravir with rilpivirine is a complete, long-acting regimen, and adding zidovudine is not part of the approved use. Combining them provides no recognised benefit and adds toxicity such as bone marrow suppression.
How serious is the interaction between Cabotegravir and Zidovudine?
MediHelp rates it moderate, on a four-level scale (minor, moderate, major, contraindicated) based on published labels and references. What to do, in brief: Do not use zidovudine alongside long-acting cabotegravir/rilpivirine unless a specialist guides a specific regimen; monitor blood counts if combined.
What other medicines interact with Zidovudine?
MediHelp also lists interactions of Zidovudine with, for example, Elvitegravir / cobicistat / emtricitabine / tenofovir df, Stavudine, Atidarsagene autotemcel. The full list is on the Zidovudine page.
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