How to Find Apretude in Stock Near You (Tools + Tips)

Searching for Apretude online and hitting dead ends? You won't find it at a Walgreens or CVS — and that's not a shortage. It's just how injectable PrEP works. Apretude is a clinic-administered medication, not a retail prescription. Here's a practical guide to finding it near you.

Why You Can't Pick Up Apretude at a Pharmacy

Apretude (cabotegravir extended-release injectable suspension) must be administered by a healthcare provider as a 600 mg gluteal intramuscular injection. It requires HIV testing before every dose. Because of this, the drug follows a medical-benefit model rather than a pharmacy-benefit model in most cases.

To get Apretude, you need to find a provider or clinic that: (1) can prescribe it, (2) has access to the supply through a specialty pharmacy, and (3) is trained to administer it. That's a different process from picking up a pill bottle — but it's very doable.

Step 1: Use medfinder to Find a Provider

medfinder helps patients locate providers and pharmacies that can fill their prescriptions. Visit medfinder.com, enter Apretude and your zip code, and medfinder will contact providers on your behalf to find who can accommodate you. This is the fastest way to start.

Step 2: Contact HIV Specialty Clinics and Ryan White Health Centers

HIV specialty clinics and Ryan White-funded health centers are typically among the first to offer injectable PrEP. These clinics have the training, insurance workflow experience, and specialty pharmacy relationships needed to administer Apretude.

To find a Ryan White clinic near you, visit the HRSA Find a Health Center tool at findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov or call 1-877-464-4772. These federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) often have sliding-fee scales and can serve uninsured patients.

Step 3: Call Your State or Local Health Department

State HIV programs often maintain lists of PrEP providers — including those that administer injectable options. A call to your state health department's HIV prevention program can yield a referral list specific to your area and may include information on free or low-cost programs.

Step 4: Ask Your Current PrEP Provider

If you're already on oral PrEP (Truvada or Descovy), your prescriber may already be able to switch you to Apretude. Ask specifically: "Do you administer Apretude injections in this office?" Some primary care offices and OB/GYN practices have started offering injectable PrEP. Others may refer you to a specialist who does.

Step 5: Contact ViiVConnect for Provider Referrals

ViiV Healthcare, the manufacturer of Apretude, operates ViiVConnect — a patient support program that can help with insurance authorization, finding specialty pharmacies, and locating providers. Call ViiV Healthcare at 1-877-844-8872 or visit ViiVConnect.com.

Step 6: Try Telehealth for the Prescription — Then Find a Local Injector

Some telehealth providers can prescribe Apretude after a virtual consultation and HIV testing arranged at a local lab. The prescription can then be sent to a specialty pharmacy that delivers to a participating clinic near you. This model — getting the prescription via telehealth, then receiving the injection locally — is an increasingly common pathway.

What to Expect at Your First Apretude Appointment

Once you've found a provider:

You'll have an HIV test to confirm HIV-negative status (required before every injection)

You may optionally take oral cabotegravir (Vocabria) for ~28 days as a lead-in to test tolerability

Your first injection (600 mg IM into the gluteal muscle) is given on the last day of the lead-in or within 3 days after

A second initiation injection follows one month later

After that, injections are every two months (with a 7-day window before or after each target date)

What If You Can't Find Apretude in Your Area?

If you're in a rural area or can't find a provider offering Apretude, don't go unprotected. Daily oral PrEP (generic Truvada or Descovy) is available at most pharmacies and is highly effective. Read our guide to alternatives to Apretude while you continue searching.