Dovato® once-daily tablet for HIV-1 treatment and switch therapy

What Dovato® Is and How It Works

Dovato is a complete two‑drug HIV-1 regimen that combines dolutegravir 50 mg (an integrase strand transfer inhibitor) and lamivudine 300 mg (a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor) in one tablet. It is used for treatment‑naive adults, and for people who are virologically suppressed and wish to switch, when there is no history of treatment failure or resistance to the components. Many shoppers compare dovato price and ask about dovato cost without insurance when planning long‑term therapy.

YouDrugstore is a licensed Canadian pharmacy headquartered in Manitoba; prescriptions are reviewed by licensed pharmacists before dispensing. We work with vetted international partner pharmacies to source authentic brand medications with broad selection and affordable pricing.

Dovato blocks HIV replication at two steps. Dolutegravir prevents viral DNA from integrating into host DNA, and lamivudine stops reverse transcription. The result is rapid viral load decline and CD4 count recovery in most patients. The once‑daily dosing improves adherence compared to multi‑pill regimens. As a complete regimen, Dovato is not taken with other antiretrovirals. Screen for hepatitis B virus (HBV) before starting because lamivudine alone is not adequate HBV therapy, and stopping it can cause HBV flare.

Dosage and Usage

• Standard dose: One Dovato 50/300 mg tablet once daily, with or without food. The product may be listed as dovato tab 50 300mg or dovato 50 300 mg.
• Initiation: Use in adults (and eligible adolescents by weight/age per labeling) with no known resistance to dolutegravir or lamivudine, and no HBV coinfection unless additional HBV‑active therapy is added.
• Switching: May replace a stable regimen in virologically suppressed patients (<50 copies/mL) with no history of treatment failure or resistance to either component.
• Antacids/mineral supplements: Take Dovato at least 2 hours before or 6 hours after aluminum/magnesium antacids. Calcium or iron can be taken with Dovato if taken with food; otherwise separate as above.
• Drug interactions: Contraindicated with dofetilide. Not recommended with rifampin. Enzyme inducers (e.g., carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenytoin, St. John’s wort) can lower dolutegravir levels.
• Metformin: Dolutegravir can increase metformin levels; dose adjustment and monitoring may be needed.
• Renal impairment: Not recommended if creatinine clearance is below 30 mL/min due to the lamivudine component.
• Missed dose: If a dose is missed and it is not close to the next dose, take it as soon as remembered. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not double up.

• Store Dovato tablets at 15–30 °C (59–86 °F) in the original, tightly closed bottle with the desiccant.
• Keep tablets dry. Do not store in bathrooms. Protect from moisture and excess heat.
• For travel, keep your Dovato pill bottle in your carry‑on. Bring extra doses and your prescription (dovato rx) label.
• Use a small pill case for daily use, but keep most tablets in the original container.
• Crossing time zones: maintain 24‑hour spacing between doses; ask your care team for a simple plan if trips are complex.

Benefits and Savings

Dovato offers potent viral suppression with two agents instead of three, which can reduce cumulative drug exposure. In trials, it matched three‑drug regimens for efficacy in appropriate patients, while avoiding tenofovir‑related renal and bone effects. The single daily tablet supports adherence and simplifies routines.

Buying from Canada often lowers the price of Dovato. Typical savings run 60–80% versus many US retail prices, which can meaningfully reduce the dovato cost per month. These savings help people budgeting for long‑term therapy, including those exploring dovato cost without insurance. Multi‑month supplies and periodic bulk promotions can further lower per‑month costs, and you can set gentle reorder reminders so refills stay on track. Shoppers also compare the price of Dovato across pharmacies, including searches like “precio de Dovato” and “Dovato precio USA.”

See current options on our promotions page: dovato coupon.

Side Effects and Safety

• Common effects: headache, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, fatigue, dizziness, and abnormal dreams.
• Other reported: rash, anxiety, mild weight gain, and changes in liver enzymes.
• Laboratory: transient increases in serum creatinine (via tubular secretion effect of dolutegravir, not renal injury).

Serious but less common risks include hypersensitivity reactions; lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis (NRTI class effect); immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome; depression or suicidal thoughts in susceptible individuals; and HBV exacerbation when lamivudine is stopped in people with hepatitis B. Avoid in known resistance to integrase inhibitors or lamivudine. Do not use with dofetilide. Use caution in pregnancy, especially around conception, given historical concerns about neural tube defects with dolutegravir; discuss risks and alternatives with a clinician. Screen for HBV (dovato hepatitis b considerations) before starting, and add a fully HBV‑active agent if coinfected.

Onset Time

Viral load usually begins to fall within 2–4 weeks after starting Dovato. Many patients reach <50 copies/mL by 8–24 weeks, depending on baseline viral load and adherence. CD4 counts often rise over months as viral suppression is maintained. Symptom improvements from immune recovery vary by individual; consistent, daily dosing supports the best response.

Compare With Alternatives

Juluca® (dolutegravir/rilpivirine) is another two‑drug option used for patients already suppressed, with different food and acid‑suppressant considerations. It is not indicated for treatment‑naive starts.

Triple‑drug single tablets like bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide offer a high barrier to resistance and are widely used for initiation, but they include tenofovir. Some patients prefer Dovato’s two‑drug exposure profile when eligible.

Kaletra® (lopinavir/ritonavir) represents an older protease inhibitor–based approach with more gastrointestinal effects and twice‑daily dosing, and is less common today for first‑line therapy.

Pre‑exposure prophylaxis options, such as long‑acting cabotegravir (Apretude), are for prevention in HIV‑negative individuals rather than treatment of established HIV‑1 infection.

Combination Therapy

• Dovato is a complete HIV-1 regimen. Do not combine with other antiretrovirals for routine treatment.
• HBV coinfection: add an HBV‑active agent such as tenofovir to prevent hepatitis B breakthrough and flare.
• Rifampin and other strong inducers: Dovato is not recommended; consider an alternative regimen.
• Metformin: monitor and consider dose reduction due to increased exposure with dolutegravir.
• Antacids/calcium/iron: separate dosing or take with food as noted to avoid chelation.

Patient Suitability and Cost-Saving Tips

Good candidates include adults starting antiretroviral therapy with no known resistance to lamivudine or integrase inhibitors, no HBV coinfection (unless an HBV agent is added), and a baseline viral load where two‑drug initiation is appropriate. Dovato is also suitable for those who are virologically suppressed and wish to simplify therapy with a single tablet.

Dovato may not be suitable for people with significant renal impairment (CrCl <30 mL/min), those on contraindicated medications (dofetilide), or those taking strong inducers. It is not recommended for individuals with current HBV infection unless combined with additional HBV‑active therapy. Discuss pregnancy plans, as alternatives may be preferred around conception. People with prior virologic failure or resistance should use different regimens.

Cost tips: compare dovato medicine price across pharmacies; ordering a multi‑month supply can reduce the dovato cost per month. Set a reorder reminder so shipments stay on schedule. If paying without insurance, Canadian pricing can provide meaningful savings. As of today, Dovato is a brand product; generic versions are not widely available.

Authoritative Sources

ViiV Healthcare Dovato product page

Health Canada Drug Product Database: Dovato

FDA Prescribing Information for Dovato

Order Dovato® from YouDrugstore: add to cart, upload your prescription, and we ship with prompt, express shipping.

This material is educational and does not replace advice from a licensed healthcare professional. Always consult your prescriber or pharmacist about your specific treatment.