I originally switched from daily oral medications to the injectable treatment because I disliked taking daily pills. The medication is administered as two separate injections—one in each gluteal muscle during the same visit. One injection is typically painless, while the second causes mild discomfort. After the first dose, sitting down can be somewhat uncomfortable for a few hours, and the muscle remains sore for a few days. However, this soreness improves significantly over time; by my final dose, the post-injection discomfort lasted only a single day.
Ultimately, I transitioned back to the oral pill regimen due to logistical constraints. Receiving the injections required taking time off work that my rigid work schedule could not easily accommodate, whereas my previous schedule had been much more flexible. Additionally, following a recent heart surgery, I was prescribed several new daily cardiovascular medications. Since taking daily pills became an unavoidable part of my routine anyway, returning to the oral form of this medication made the most sense to prevent losing work days.
@A myHIVteam Member I go for my 1st shot on Friday and I’m kind of nervous of the side affects.
How exciting — Wednesday is just around the corner! Many myHIVteam members have shared their experiences with Cabenuva, and the overall takeaway is that trading daily pills for a monthly (or every-two-months) injection is a big quality-of-life win for most people.
Here's what members commonly report:
The good stuff
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