Dovato for HIV Infection User Reviews

• Thi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

"I was diagnosed with HIV in June 2020 and started out with Biktarvy, which, although got me to undetectable fast, didn’t work well for me – mainly due to hair loss, rash, and heart rushing. I switched to Triumeq, which worked okay but often had a bad stomach. Since two months back, I asked to try Dovato instead since it’s the same as Triumeq but without the Abacavir. I have since not had a single side effect, and so far, this medication works incredibly well for me. Haven’t done my blood works since I switched, but I assume and hope I’m still undetectable. Slowly accepting these days that I am living with HIV, but hoping so much for a cure. We are so blessed though about the ingenuity of mankind creating molecules that save most of us from a previously certain, early death. Thank you to the entire medical community. Thank you for giving us all life."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2023

"I was diagnosed with HIV in August of 2023. My count was 800 and infection rate was at 300,000. I've been taking Dovato for 2 months now with no side effects. I'm very active in sports and work, and I still have lots of energy by the time I'm done with dinner. I will go for my second lab results in December, but I feel great. To everyone battling HIV, keep your head up because there's a cure coming."

• Nor...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2021

"Update - I've been on Dovato for 18 months now. All tests are excellent. Undetectable and CD4 counts are between 1100-1350. I experienced neuropathy, insomnia, etc., when I started treatment with Biktarvy. There have been no side effects on Dovato. I am a strong believer that only 2 drugs will be beneficial for my long-term health. I work out 5 days a week and work full time. I try to enjoy my life. Thank you, science!"

• Jac...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 7, 2024

"I started Dovato in March of 2023. My CD4 was around 320 at the time. I was undetectable within a month and so far have had no side effects. My CD4 as of today is around 600. I'm posting this to help others who are looking to start medication."

• ESE...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 22, 2021

"I was experiencing vivid dreams after being on Biktarvy for a year and a half and thought I would improve my sleep quality by switching to Dovato. Sleep quality on Biktarvy was a 7 out of 10... sleep quality on Dovato was a 1 out of 10. I was also trying to get away from Biktarvy as it was increasing my LDL (bad cholesterol), and I am a healthy male in my 40s with a great diet and gym four times a week. On Biktarvy, I also had muscle strains and injuries that seemed to never recover. Had to try something different. Grateful we have so many choices. :) Dovato might be GREAT for you... however, for me, I would wake up after 3-4 hours of sleep... resulting in a horrible attitude, pressure in my head, and headaches from really bad sleep. On Dovato, I would fall asleep at 11 and wake at 3 AM and stare at the ceiling for hours trying to get back to sleep. Insomnia resulted in feeling like garbage for weeks while on this med. Back to Biktarvy and hope for a cure soon!"

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 21, 2022

"I am on Dovato for the past 60 days. I switched from Genvoya with my doctor's advice because it's a 'newer' drug. I had no issues with Genvoya at all, but with Dovato, I am constantly tired, having a hard time concentrating. I am either working or in bed sleeping. Can't say I am super depressed, but I feel like I lost my cheerfulness a lot. I'll give it another month. If it doesn't get any better, I'll switch back to Genvoya."

• gum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 17, 2021

"On it for about 5 months. No problems, no weakness, no side effects. One thing I can say is that I have been undetectable for 10 years, and this continued with this drug. A bonus for me was that with this drug, my CD4 is now the highest it has ever been in 15 years."

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 29, 2021

"I transferred to Dovato after using Biktarvy for a while. Doctor suggested that the two-drug regimen would be better long-term. Completely happy on Dovato so far (about 16 months now). No side effects and good control of my situation. Very thankful for the medication and amazing doctors."

• Ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 3, 2021

"I've been on Dovato for 9 months now, and it causes extreme anxiety and weird vision for me. But upon reading the reviews of other drugs, I think I would rather be a hermit crab with bad anxiety than have liver issues, hair loss, and insomnia like the other drugs cause. Besides anxiety and weird vision issues, it has caused no issues, lol. Wish the anxiety would chill out."

• Joe...
• March 4, 2021

"I tried it for 1 month and experienced really bad neuropathy in my arms and legs. I read that in rare cases neuropathy is a problem with 3TC. Other symptoms experienced were brain fog and strong fatigue. When I brought this up with the HIV clinic, they unsurprisingly dismissed my concerns with the 'but that's extremely rare' spiel. I switched back to Biktarvy. Also, this is not a 'new drug' as it's often touted. It's a new BRAND, not a new drug. Dolutegravir has been around since 2013. Lamivudine (3TC) since 1995 (!!). So just because they have splashy TV ads doesn't mean this is the latest and greatest. I chose to be cautious and go back to Biktarvy, where I had less overall side effects, and as far as I'm aware, neuropathy is not a known side effect of any of Biktarvy's ingredients. But in your case, it might work for you, so feel free to try it if you wish."

• Ant...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 6, 2021

"Started to feel unwell around 4 months ago, having been on Dovato for 4 months at that point (previously on Stribild, which served me well). I developed very high levels of anxiety (including very bleak thoughts), difficulty sleeping, as well as abdominal/esophageal hypersensitivity and feelings of nausea. Agreed with my consultant today to switch back to Stribild. I have a strong suspicion the symptoms I've been experiencing are related to the Dovato but clearly don't know for sure. My post here is simply to share my experience and hopefully help others with their decision-making. Thank you to everyone for your useful posts."

• Aj ...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 27, 2023

"I have experienced every single bad side effect of this medication, and I wish I had a better doctor who would have been more attentive to my concerns. The side effects have caused significant damage to my body. It's like having 19 out of 20 side effects, and yet my doctor kept telling me that I was fine. I feel mistreated and not listened to. As a doctor, he should have seen the similarities and taken my symptoms more seriously."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 3, 2021

"I started taking Dovato in September 2020, and it is June 2021 now. This drug has worked pretty well for me in the fact that I became undetectable quite fast, and it’s only two ingredients. I have found at first Dovato caused a lot of vivid dreams that are really life-like, but it doesn’t bother me, so I’m okay with that. Hair thinning! No one talks about this, but for a lot of people, antiviral drugs cause hair loss, which is the biggest setback to me when it comes to Dovato. My liver has remained healthy (even with my moderate alcohol use), so that’s always a plus. I do recommend unless you have extreme symptoms like some other people are having. Best luck! Stay healthy :)"

• Unk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 9, 2021

"I hope someone can relate to my experience. I have been taking Dovato for two months now. I was initially on Atripla and took it for less than two weeks. I was highly allergic to it, confused, depressed, always feeling high, like I drank whole bottles of wine. I wasn’t stable and wanted to die. That was the longest two weeks of my life, and I didn’t think I would survive. Finally, I was put on Trimuq! I felt normal, happy, and hopeful, it worked very well, and my CD4 greatly improved. My doctor suggested after 2 months to switch me to Dovato, smaller in size, less toxicity. I was looking forward to it. A month into the drug, itchy skin, small bumps on my arms, tummy, back, turning black, and black spots on my feet (don’t know if black spots on my feet were initially caused by Atripla or Trimuq, as I noticed them only a month into Dovato), muscle spasms, pins and needles, crawling skin, a bit light-headed, and now a couple of days of heart palpitations, dreams, anxiety."

• imo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 8, 2022

"Been on Dovato for 2 years now ever since I detected my infection in August 2020. It’s been like taking a vitamin pill. No side effects whatsoever (just yet). Got to undetectable status in less than 3 months and have stayed there, touch wood. CD4 count (1000-1300) and proportion of CD4 have been on an increasing trend. Thank you, Viiv! Waiting for a cure …"

• Ant...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 31, 2020

"Since startup on Dovato, I experienced rapid weight loss; disorientation or anxiety, rapid heart rate (I use the smartwatch to monitor the bizarre variances), gradual difficulty breathing as if at high altitudes; morphine had the same results. Unable to sleep because heart rate drops to 56, causing oxygen-related anxieties. DVTs taking a rapid change since startup. Acud buildup, and I need iron and can't take it with Dovato."

• SGN...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 26, 2022

"Within a month of taking Dovato, I had an allergic reaction with facial swelling, the lumps were hard, and my cheekbones painful and lasted for a few days. I told the doc, he said it was sinusitis, something I never had before. So, I carried on with the medication, but the bouts of swelling happened so many times. I demanded to be listened to and switch meds, so I switched a month ago to Biktarvy, and so far, God willing, no more facial swelling. Also, while on it, my sleep was awful, with vivid dreams, mega tiredness, weight gain, and lots of aches and pains. Dovato kept me undetectable, but the CD4 dropped, which worried me a lot. I reported the side effects on the yellow card system (UK). I feel let down by my clinic allowing this to go on for so long-20+ bouts of swelling in 18 months and given antibiotics I didn’t need to have. I will switch again if needed, but I’ve convinced myself that Dovato was poison."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2022

"Inferior to Triumeq despite maintaining undetectable, my CD4 has been going downhill since I switched. I have never in 10 years dealt with CD4 in the 360s range. At the same time, I have been dealing with months of active skin infection, which has never happened to me. I have been to the doctor many times on antibiotics and still no answer. Blood tests show active infection and my immune system going haywire. Switched back immediately to Triumeq after 6 months. Do not switch to this inferior product. Never again, less is better."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2021

"Within two days of taking my first dose, I started getting a rash on the back of my neck and my arms. I immediately stopped taking the prescribed prednisone for my rash but am still experiencing itching."

• San...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 7, 2023

"I've been on Biktarvy from Descovy and Tivicay, and Biktarvy was terrible. I started Dovato and love it. I've been on different medications since 2000 and know how to manipulate the effects. I study the effects of weight gain, depression, and fatigue. I'm completely mindful and will not allow side effects to control me. I do intermittent fasting in moderation to maintain control of my mind and body. I love Dovato, you can't allow the meds to control you."

• Spi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2021

"Does anyone have rheumatoid arthritis along with HIV? I seem to be the only one having this combination. Please let me know as I am so much in pain, and it started last year before my switch to Dovato and before the coronavirus. You can write a review here on the Dovato review page. Thank you!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 11, 2021

"Due to stomach pain, face, shoulder, neck paresthesia, muscle pain, fatigue, angina pectoris, when I take the drug after lunch, I feel a sensitivity alteration reaction with sweating. The drug is not good for patients hypersensitive to Dolutegravir and lamivudine. I have noticed that lamivudine is an active ingredient in a 25-year-old drug called Epivir, so they cannot say that it is a new drug. :)"

• Dan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 19, 2023

"I am so thankful for Dovato. I was so scared because of all the bad reviews, but they helped me get off Genvoya, which caused me severe OCD anxiety. Dovato has been a lifesaver for me. Once I got off Genvoya, my anxiety went from 95% to 15% daily. I’m hoping my triglycerides and cholesterol go back to normal since Genvoya did more harm to me. Don’t be scared to try Dovato. Do your research, it is much better to remove TAF/TDF and Emtricitabine, which can cause severe anxiety."

• Mik...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 11, 2023

"I have been taking Dovato for almost a year. For the entire year, I have had unbearable nasal congestion. It was so bad I went to an allergist and went through 6 months of allergy shots that didn't help my congestion. I assume Dovato is the cause. I also experience severe pain in my finger joints, to the point where sometimes I can't open my hand without pain. My CD4 count is currently not measurable. The HIV test came back negative, so the Dovato is working extremely well. I am going to discuss changing back to GEnvoya due to side effects."

• sur...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 16, 2022

"Started on Dovato April 17 of this year after being on Triumeq for 5 years. I have had a cough, headaches, and body aches since early May. Also bizarre dreams, so tired I can't do anything. I see my doctor Monday to go over blood work. Praying she switches me back."