Pronunciation: TRI-u-meck
Generic name: abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine
Brand names: Triumeq, Triumeq PD
Dosage form: tablets (600 mg abacavir, 50 mg dolutegravir, 300 mg lamivudine), tablets for oral suspension (60 mg of abacavir, 5 mg of dolutegravir, and 30 mg of lamivudine)
Drug class: Antiviral combinations

Medically reviewed by Melisa Puckey, BPharm. Last updated on Jul 25, 2024.

What is Triumeq?

Triumeq is a prescription medication used to treat the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It combines three antiviral drugs: abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine. Triumeq works by preventing HIV from multiplying, helping to maintain low virus levels, minimizing immune system damage, and reducing the risk of HIV-related infections and diseases.

Triumeq is used for treating HIV-1 infections in patients aged three months and older who weigh at least 13.2 pounds (6kg). Triumeq is available in two forms: a standard tablet, which must be swallowed whole, and Triumeq PD, a dispersible tablet that can be dissolved in water, for patients under 25 kg (55.1 pounds).

Triumeq should not be used as a standalone treatment in patients who have developed resistance to certain drugs. While effective in managing HIV symptoms and progression, Triumeq is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Triumeq side effects

Common Triumeq side effects

Common Triumeq side effects are headache, tiredness, or trouble sleeping.

Serious Triumeq side effects

Triumeq side effects include a serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction). Call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction from two or more of these specific side effect groups:

• Group 1 - fever;
• Group 2 - rash;
• Group 3 - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
• Group 4 - general ill feeling, extreme tiredness, body aches;
• Group 5 - shortness of breath, cough, sore throat.

Once you have had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains abacavir or dolutegravir, you must never use it again. If you stop taking Triumeq for any reason, talk to your doctor before you start taking it again.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

• other signs of allergic reaction - skin blisters or peeling, eye redness, swelling in your face or throat, trouble breathing;
• lactic acidosis - unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, irregular heart rate, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired; or
• liver problems - swelling around your midsection, right-sided upper stomach pain, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Triumeq may cause certain side effects (even weeks or months after you've taken this medicine) if it affects your immune system. Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection - fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss;
• trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness or prickly feeling; or
• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Also, see the Warnings section.

This is not a complete list of side effects, and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

You should not take Triumeq if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine that contains abacavir, or if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 allele. Also, you should not use this medicine if you have moderate or severe liver disease, or if you are also taking dofetilide (Tikosyn).

Stop using Triumeq and call your doctor immediately if you have any of the following signs of an allergic reaction to this medicine: fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, general ill feeling, extreme tiredness, body aches, shortness of breath, cough, or sore throat.

If you've had hepatitis B, it may come back or get worse after you stop using Triumeq. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.

Triumeq tablets and Triumeq PD tablets for oral suspension are not substitutable.

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Triumeq if you are allergic to abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine or if:

• you also take dofetilide (Tikosyn);
• you have moderate or severe liver disease;
• you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 allele (your doctor will test you for this); or
• you have a history of allergic reactions to Combivir, Dutrebis, Epivir, Epzicom, Tivicay, Trizivir, or Ziagen.

To make sure Triumeq is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease (especially hepatitis B or C);
• heart problems or risk factors such as diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol; or
• kidney disease.

You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. This may be more likely if you have other medical conditions if you are overweight, or if you are a woman. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Pregnancy

You may need to have a negative pregnancy test before starting this treatment.

The active ingredients of Triumeq (abacavir, dolutegravir, or lamivudine) could harm an unborn baby if you take this medicine at the time of conception or during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Use effective birth control to prevent pregnancy, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant.

If you are pregnant, use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.

Breastfeeding

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breastfeed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Triumeq?

Triumeq tablets are not the same as Triumeq PD tablets for oral suspension and should not be substituted for each other. To avoid using the wrong medicine, make sure you receive the correct dosage form each time your prescription is filled.

Triumeq tablets are taken orally once a day with or without food.

Triumeq PD tablets are dispersed in water to make an oral suspension. The suspension must be stirred and taken with 30 minutes of mixing. It may be taken with or without food. Do not swallow the tablets for oral suspension whole, and do not chew, cut, or crush the tablets.

Doses are based on weight in children and teenagers. Your child's dose may change if the child gains or loses weight.

Triumeq comes with a Medication Guide and a Warning Card listing symptoms of an allergic reaction. Read this information to learn what to watch for, and keep the Wallet Card with you at all times.

You may need to take an extra daily dose of dolutegravir (Tivicay) if you take Triumeq with certain other medicines.

Take Triumeq exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.

Use all HIV medications as directed and read all medication guides you receive. Do not change your dose or stop using a medicine without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV should remain under the care of a doctor.

If you've had hepatitis B, it may come back or get worse after you stop using Triumeq. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.

Dosing information

Recommended Adult Triumeq Dose for HIV Infection:

Dose: 1 Triumeq tablet once a day (600 mg abacavir, 50 mg dolutegravir, 300 mg lamivudine).
Use: For the treatment of HIV-1 infection.

Recommended Pediatric Dose for HIV Infection:

Dose: Doses are based on weight in children and teenagers. Your child's dose may change if the child gains or loses weight.

• 6 kg to <10 kg: three Triumeq PD tablets once daily. Total dose is 180 mg abacavir, 15 mg dolutegravir, and 90 mg lamivudine once daily.
• 10 kg to <14 kg: four Triumeq PD tablets once daily. Total dose is 240 mg abacavir, 20 mg dolutegravir, and 120 mg lamivudine once daily.
• 14 kg to <20 kg: five Triumeq PD tablets once daily. Total dose is 300 mg abacavir, 25 mg dolutegravir, and 150 mg lamivudine once daily.
• 20 kg to <25 kg: six Triumeq PD tablets once daily. Total dose is 360 mg abacavir, 30 mg dolutegravir, and 180 mg lamivudine once daily.
• 25 kg or more: one Triumeq tablet once daily. Total dose of 600 mg abacavir, 50 mg dolutegravir, and 300 mg lamivudine.

Triumeq formulations

Do not substitute Triumeq and Triumeq PD on a milligram-per-milligram basis.

Triumeq contains 600 mg of abacavir, 50 mg of dolutegravir, and 300 mg of lamivudine.

Triumeq PD contains 60 mg of abacavir, 5 mg of dolutegravir, and 30 mg of lamivudine. Triumeq PD is a tablet that is dispersed in 15 ml (for 3 tablets) or 20ml (for 4, 5 or 6 tablets) of water to make an oral suspension. The suspension must be taken with 30 minutes of mixing. Do not swallow the tablets for oral suspension whole, and do not chew, cut, or crush the tablets. Do not use Triumeq PD in adults.

Dose Modifications

If a dose reduction of abacavir, a component of this medication is required for patients with mild hepatic impairment, then the individual components should be used.
Dose modifications are required when taking certain medications with Triumeq and Triumeq PD.

Click on the link below for detailed information.

Related/similar drugs

Biktarvy, Descovy, Cabenuva, Truvada, Atripla, Stribild, Epzicom, Complera

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely. If you miss several doses, you may have a dangerous or even fatal allergic reaction once you start taking this medication again.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking Triumeq?

Using Triumeq will not prevent your disease from spreading. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Ask your doctor how to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drugs or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What other drugs will affect Triumeq?

Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.

Some medicines can make Triumeq much less effective when taken at the same time. If you take any of the following medicines, take your Triumeq dose 2 hours before or 6 hours after you take the other medicine.

• antacids or laxatives that contain aluminum or magnesium (Maalox, Milk of Magnesia, Mylanta, Pepcid Complete, Rolaids, and others);
• the ulcer medicine sucralfate (Carafate);
• buffered medicine; or
• vitamin or mineral supplements that contain calcium or iron (can be taken at the same time with Triumeq if you take it with food).

If dosing with certain UGT1A or CYP3A inducers, then the recommended dolutegravir dosage regimen should be adjusted.

Many drugs can interact with abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed here. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.

What is the cost of Triumeq?

Triumeq's cost will depend on your insurance plan and which pharmacy you use.

Triumeq coupon or a savings card may be available that you could be eligible for. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you qualify, or click on this link for Triumeq coupons and our price guide or Triumeq HP coupons and our price guide.

Ingredients

Active ingredients: abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine

Inactive ingredients in Triumeq tablets are D-mannitol, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone, and sodium starch glycolate. The tablet film coating contains iron oxide black and red, macrogol/PEG, polyvinyl alcohol–part hydrolyzed, talc, and titanium oxide.

Inactive ingredients in Triumeq PD tablets for oral suspension are acesulfame potassium, crospovidone, mannitol, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone K29/32, silicified microcrystalline cellulose, sodium starch glycolate, sodium stearyl fumarate, strawberry cream flavor, and sucralose. The tablet film-coating contains: ferric oxide yellow, macrogol/PEG, polyvinyl alcohol-part hydrolyzed, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Storage

• Store at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C) in the original bottle.
• Keep the bottle tightly closed and protect it from moisture.
• The bottle contains a desiccant packet to help keep your medicine dry (protect it from moisture).
• Do not remove the desiccant packet from the bottle.

Company

Manufactured for: ViiV Healthcare, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

Manufactured by: GlaxoSmithKline, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709.

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Further information

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