Question
Can you talk about ART injections – are these available in South Africa?
20 January 2025. Related: Access to treatment, All topics, Changing treatment, Southern Africa, Starting treatment.
Hello good day, may I please find out more about HIV injection treatment and is it provided in South Africa? and if you could help me know where to get it ?
What are the advantages of this injection and what are the side effects of it as well?
Your answer will be much appreciated, thank you.
Answer
Hi there
The only currently approved injectable ART uses two long-acting (LA) injections.
These are called cabotegravir-LA and rilpivirine-LA. They are given by separate injections into the muscle in your bottom/arse/ass.
This link has more information about these drugs including side effects. It also included some of the potential advantages and disadvantages compared to oral pills.
https://i-base.info/guides/15361
This combination was approved fro treatment in the US, the UK and many other countries 2021 but it still hasn’t been approved for treatment in South Africa. This is mainly linked to price and not being available as generics.
Advantages include easier adherence for people who have difficulty taking oral HIV meds. Disadvantages include having to have injections at a clinic every eight weeks and a small risk of viral load rebound with drug resistance even when the injections are taken on time.
The online article includes more information about why cabotegravir-LA and rilpivirine-LA injections are not currently available as HIV treatment in South Africa:
www.spotlightnsp.co.za/2024/08/12/why-we-dont-have-long-acting-hiv-treatment-in-south-africa/
Other long-acting treatment are also being developed for the future, including oral pills that only need to be taken once a week. This article has more details.
https://i-base.info/htb/49783
Even though these drugs might not be available at the moment, it is good to ask your doctor about them.
Everyone is hoping that access gets better in all countries in the near future, but the exact times are difficult to predict.
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