ABACAVIR AND LAMIVUDINE (Systemic)?
Some commonly used brand names are:
In the U.S.?
? Not commercially available in Canada.
Category
Description
Abacavir (a-BAK-a-veer), and lamivudine (la-MI-vyoo-deen) combination is used in the treatment ofhuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. HIV is the virus that causesacquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Abacavir and lamivudine combination will not cure or preventHIV infection or the symptoms of AIDS; however, it helps keep HIV from reproducing,and appears to slow down the destruction of the immune system. This may helpdelay the development of serious health problems usually related to AIDS orHIV infection. Abacavir and lamivudine combination will not keep you fromspreading HIV to other people. People who receive this medicine may continueto have other problems usually related to AIDS or HIV infection.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription, in thefollowing dosage forms:
Before Using This Medicine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must beweighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctorwill make. For abacavir and lamivudine, the following should be considered:
Allergies?Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusualor allergic reaction to abacavir or lamivudine. This medicineshould not be taken if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it or toabacavir because it could cause another severe reaction that may result indeath. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergicto any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.
Pregnancy?Abacavir and lamivudine combination has not beenstudied in pregnant women. However, abacavir has been found to cause birthdefects and other problems in animals at doses many times the human dose.Before taking abacavir and lamivudine combination, make sure your doctor knowsif you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
Breast-feeding?It is not known whether abacavir passes intobreast milk, however lamivudine is passed into human breast milk. Becauseof the possibility that this medicine could cause unwanted effects in nursingbabies and the risk of passing HIV on to the infant, breast-feeding is notrecommended. Mothers who are taking this medicine and who wish to breast-feedshould discuss this with their doctor.
Children?Studies on this medicine have been done only inadult patients, and there is no specific information comparing use of abacavirand lamivudine in children with the use in other age groups.
Older adults?Many medicines have not been studied specificallyin older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactlythe same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effectsor problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing useof abacavir in the elderly with use in other age groups.
Other medicines?Although certain medicines should not be usedtogether at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used togethereven if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want tochange the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are takingabacavir and lamivudine, it is especially important that your doctor and pharmacistknow if you are taking any of the following:
- Abacavir (e.g., Ziagen) or
- Lamivudine (e.g., Epivir-HBV, Combivir, Trizivir)?Using additionalabacavir or lamivudine with this combination medicine may increase the chanceof side effects of abacavir and lamivudine
- Zalcitabine (e.g., HIVID)?Use of this medicine with lamivudinemay result in these medicines or the combination not working as well as theyshould
Other medical problems?The presence of other medicalproblems may affect the use of abacavir and lamivudine combination. Make sureyou tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Allergy to abacavir?You should tell your doctor immediatelyif you have signs of an allergic reaction. If you have ever taken abacavirin the past, you should tell your doctor right away.
- Kidney disease or
- Liver problems?Patients with kidney or liver disease may havemore side effects
- Risk factors for liver disease such as:
- Being overweight or
- Taking other HIV medicines for long periods of time?Seriousside effects could occur; caution should be used
Proper Use of This Medicine
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not takeit more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.
Do not stop taking abacavir and lamivudine combination without checkingwith your doctor first.
Dosing?This medicine works best when there is aconstant amount in the blood. To help keep the amountconstant, do not miss any doses. If you need help in planning the besttimes to take your medicine, check with your health care professional.
Only take medicine your doctor has prescribed for you. Do not share yourmedicine with others.
Abacavir and lamivudine combination contains a fixed amount of each medicine.
- For oral dosage form (tablets):
- For HIV infection:
- Adults?600 milligrams (mg) of abacavir, and 300 mg of lamivudine(equal to one tablet) once a day. This medicine can be taken with or withoutfood.
- Children?Use and dose must be determined by your doctor
Missed dose?If you miss a dose of this medicine, take itas soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skipthe missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not doubledoses.
Storage?To store this medicine:
- Keep out of the reach of children.
- Store away from heat and direct light.
- Do not store in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in otherdamp places. Heat or moisture may cause the medicine to break down.
- Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Be surethat any discarded medicine is out of the reach of children.
Precautions While Using This Medicine
It is very important that your doctor check your progress atregular visits. Abacavir and lamivudine combination may cause bloodproblems, and your doctor will want to test your blood regularly.
This medicine may cause a severe allergic reaction in some patients. Thisreaction usually occurs within 6 weeks after the medicine is started but mayoccur at any time. If untreated, it can lead to severe low blood pressureand even death. Stop taking this medicine and check withyour doctor immediately if you notice sudden fever, skin rash, diarrhea, nausea,stomach pain, vomiting, or a feeling of unusual tiredness or illness, cough,shortness of breath, or sore throat.
When you begin taking this medicine, you will be given a warning card whichdescribes symptoms of severe allergic reactions that may be caused by abacavirand lamivudine combination. The warning card also provides information abouthow to treat these allergic reactions. For your safety, you should carry thewarning card with you at all times.
Side Effects of This Medicine
Along with its needed effects, a medicinemay cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects mayoccur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctorimmediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Hypersensitivity reaction, including abdominal or stomach pain;cough; diarrhea; fever; headache; nausea; numbness or tingling of face, feet,or hands; pain in joints; pain in muscles; shortness of breath; skin rash;sore throat; swelling of feet or lower legs; unusual feeling of discomfortor illness; unusual tiredness or weakness; or vomiting
Incidence not known?occurred during clinical practice
Blistering, peeling, loosening of skin; bloating; burning, numbness, tingling, or painfulsensations; chest pain; chills; constipation; convulsions; dark urine; decreasedappetite; diarrhea; difficultyswallowing; dizziness; fast heartbeat; fast, shallow breathing; feeling of fullness; general feelingof discomfort; hives or welts; indigestion; itching; light-coloredstools; loss of appetite; loss of bladder control; muscle cramping; muscle spasm or jerking of all extremities; pains in stomach, side, or abdomen, possibly radiating to the back; pale skin; puffiness or swelling ofthe eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips or tongue; red irritated eyes; redness of skin; red skin lesions, often with a purple center; sleepiness; sores, ulcers, or white spots on lipsor in mouth; sudden loss of consciousness; swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands in neck, armpit, orgroin; tightness in chest; troubled breathing with exertion; unsteadiness orawkwardness; unusual bleeding or bruising; upper right abdominal pain; weaknessin arms, hands, legs, or feet; wheezing; yellow eyes and skin
Other side effects may occur that usuallydo not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatmentas your body adjusts to the medicine. However, check with your doctor if anyof the following side effects continue or are bothersome.
Incidence not known?occurred during clinical practice
Abnormal breathing sounds; blurred vision; burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling,"pins and needles", or tingling feelings; dry mouth; dry skin; fruit-like breathodor; flushed; hair loss; increased hunger; increasedthirst; increased urination; muscle weakness; redistribution/accumulation of bodyfat; sweating; swellingor inflammation of the mouth; thinning of hair; unexplained weight loss
Other side effects not listed above may also occur insome patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your doctor.
Developed: 10/26/2004
