Cabotegravir / rilpivirine and Pain: What Users Say

• Nol...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 27, 2022

For HIV Infection "Prepare for a day or two to chill out after the shot. The doctor told me the side that is more sore is the Rilpivirine side. This time it’s way more sore than the other times. Like having trouble walking normally. It feels that sore. It goes away after a day or two. This is better than taking a pill every day, it’s just a shot every two months for me. Hopefully, they can do it every six months because it can be painful. They put the shots at a weird spot, it’s not in the butt but between the leg and hip. I cried a little this last time because the pain was sharp. You gotta stay really still when they give the shot, there were two people in the room: one to hold your hand if you want, and the other gives the shot. It’s no joke, so if you have a pain tolerance and hate being tied down to pills, do it! It has worked flawlessly, it’s just that pain from the injection that sucks."

• Wil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 13, 2023

For HIV Infection "It’s pretty much a non-event! Love the flexibility of this injection. It does have a bit of an achy feel after the injection - similar to a flu shot but very short-lived (less than 48 hours). But if you do a nice long walk after the injection or a light workout, the pain dissipates quickly. The benefits far outweigh any slight discomfort. Really a game changer for people living with HIV. Pro tip: ask the administering nurse to do the injection extra slow - slower is better as it causes less injection site pain (I’m a bit of a needle baby)."

• Nao...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 7, 2023

For HIV Infection "My first injection was in December, and the pain was bad. I could barely walk. The symptoms went away after a couple of days. The second injection was in January, the pain was okay, but I developed two lumps on both hips, and I noticed vaginal irritation the day after the injection that went away with no medication. I recently had the third injection, and I developed a yeast infection and a headache the day after the injection, along with nausea. I'm willing to go back on the daily pills."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 3, 2024

For HIV Infection "The first few injections (6-8 months), I was sore for a couple of weeks after receiving the injections. I was aware of this when I started, and the soreness now is barely noticeable. I love not having to remember to take a pill every day. I have been on Cabenuva now going on 2 years and undetectable."

• Ahj...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2025

For HIV Infection "Month 6. The first injection hurt like hell, and the others after were painful with itching, lumps, and bruising. I HATE pills, so they suggested I try the injection. Now the injection has worked great with keeping my VL under 25 copies. But I hardly ever got sick (cold or flu) while taking pills, but now on the injection I’m always getting sick. I took my son to the doctor, he got sick, and I caught it. Three weeks later, I head to my appointment, and I am currently sick with the flu, day 5. I had a fever for 4 days! I normally don’t get fevers when I get sick, just cough, sneeze, runny nose, slight body aches, and a bit of fatigue. Maybe a sore throat. I also noticed that I get headaches and have severe pain in my neck and shoulders that I am taking Motrin for almost every night. While I am not sure it is from the injection, I did not have these symptoms before the shot."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2025

For HIV Infection "About 3 weeks after my first injection and for the first two, I was in moderate pain around the injection site. Actually, it was pretty rough. It’s only been the past 3 days or so that I’m feeling back to normal and the injection site is no longer sore to the touch. Hoping the second shot in a week and a half goes easier. Other than that, all good."