One Shot Every 2 Months: The Future of HIV Treatment

You may be asking yourself: what do I know about HIV?

For the last three or four years, I’ve specialized in HIV care as a registered nurse. Within the scope of my nursing practice, I’ve learned a lot — and I’m proud to say I’m very knowledgeable about HIV management and how far we’ve come.

And yet, one thing that caught my attention — something I don’t hear nearly enough people talking about — is a medication called Cabenuva.

Cabenuva is an HIV injection that’s administered just once every eight weeks, and it allows people living with HIV to stop taking daily oral medication altogether.

Yes, you read that right: one injection every two months, and no more daily pills.

Even better? Patients who switch to Cabenuva can still maintain what we call an undetectable viral load. (If you don’t know what “undetectable” means, let me know in the comments — I’d be happy to write an article explaining it.)

You might be wondering why I felt compelled to write this. It might even sound strange to you that I feel so passionate about this medication. But let me take you back to the history of HIV care for a moment.

Back in the 1980s, being diagnosed with HIV was often described as a death sentence. Treatments were limited, and patients had to take a long list of medications just to try to keep the virus at bay. Many of those pills were large, hard to swallow, and came with painful or even dangerous side effects.

It wasn’t just the virus itself that took lives. Many people struggled so much with the burden of daily medications — some of which made them sick — that they couldn’t adhere to their regimens. On top of that, there was (and still is) an enormous stigma around HIV. People hid their pill bottles so no one would “find out,” and many carried the weight of shame and fear on top of their illness.

I’ve seen firsthand how that stigma still affects patients today.

So now, fast forward to today — we have this incredible option: one injection every two months. That means fewer pills, fewer reminders of illness, less stigma, and often fewer side effects.

Cabenuva is made up of two powerful antiretroviral medicines: cabotegravir and rilpivirine. Together, they keep the virus under control, prevent it from multiplying, and help the patient maintain an undetectable viral load — which not only improves their own health, but also means they can’t transmit the virus to others through sexual contact.

Think about how life-changing that is. Patients can go to the clinic every eight weeks, get their injection, and then go on living their lives without having to think about taking medication every day. No more hiding bottles. No more worrying about forgetting a dose.

I’ve seen patients who switch to Cabenuva walk out of the clinic smiling, feeling hopeful, and even feeling “normal” again — something that HIV has tried to take from them for too long.

That’s why I wanted to write this article. Not enough people know this is an option. Not enough people are aware that HIV treatment has advanced this far. And not enough people realize just how big of a difference something like Cabenuva can make in someone’s life.

Of course, not everyone is a candidate for Cabenuva. Patients need to already have an undetectable viral load on oral therapy and no history of resistance to the medications in Cabenuva. But for those who qualify, it’s a revolutionary option.

HIV is no longer the death sentence it once was. Thanks to advancements like Cabenuva, people living with HIV can live long, healthy, full lives with less stigma and fewer reminders of their diagnosis.If you or someone you know is living with HIV, talk to your provider about whether Cabenuva could be right for you.

If you’d like me to write more about what “undetectable” means, or dive deeper into the history of HIV treatment, let me know in the comments.

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Together, we can help erase the stigma, one story at a time.

Stay healthy,

Nurse Oliver