Drug
Abacavir-Lamivudine-Zidovudine
Pronounced
"a-BAK-a-vir SUL-fate/la-MIV-ue-deen/zye-DOE-vue-deen"
Uses
This product contains 3 drugs: abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine. It is used alone or with other HIV medications to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine all belong to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
Abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine is not a cure for HIV infection. To decrease your risk of spreading HIV disease to others, continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Use an effective barrier method (latex or polyurethane condoms/dental dams) during sexual activity as directed by your doctor. Do not share personal items (such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes, and razors) that may have contacted blood or other body fluids. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
Warning
In some patients, the abacavir in this product has caused a serious (sometimes fatal) allergic reaction. Your doctor should order a blood test to measure your risk before you start this medication or take it again. If the blood test shows you are at greater risk, you should not take this medication and your doctor should discuss other treatment choices with you. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include any of the following: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing, fever, extreme tiredness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, muscle aches, sore throat, mouth sores, or cough. Get medical help right away if you experience any of these symptoms. If you have stopped taking abacavir because of an allergic reaction, you must never take any form of abacavir again, or death could result. Tell all of your doctors and pharmacists if you have stopped taking abacavir due to an allergic reaction. Also, properly throw away any unused medications containing abacavir. Read the warning card provided with this medication for more details.
The zidovudine in this product can decrease bone marrow function, which may lead to low numbers of red and white blood cells. A low number of red blood cells can lead to anemia. A low number of white blood cells can decrease your body's ability to fight serious, life-threatening infections. These serious side effects occur more often in people with advanced HIV disease (AIDS). Get medical help right away if you develop any signs of anemia (such as unusual tiredness, fast breathing, pale skin, fast heartbeat) or signs of infection (such as sore throat that doesn't go away, fever, chills, cough). Your doctor will check your blood cell counts while you are taking this medication to decrease the risk of these side effects.
Zidovudine may also cause muscle problems. Get medical help right away if you develop signs of muscle problems (such as wasting or decrease in muscle size, weight loss, muscle weakness/pain/tenderness).
Rarely, abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine has caused severe (sometimes fatal) liver problems and a certain metabolic problem (lactic acidosis). Get medical help right away if you develop any of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, stomach/abdominal pain, unusual tiredness, dark urine, yellowing eyes/skin, deep/rapid breathing, or drowsiness. These serious side effects may occur more often in women and obese patients.
If you have hepatitis B infection and HIV, you may have a serious worsening of hepatitis symptoms if you stop taking lamivudine. Talk with your doctor before stopping this medication. Your doctor will monitor liver tests for several months after you stop lamivudine. Get medical help right away if you develop symptoms of worsening liver problems.
How to Use This Medication
Read the Medication Guide and Warning Card provided by your pharmacist before you start taking abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine and each time you get a refill. Carry the Warning Card with you at all times. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily. Take this medication with a full glass of water (8 ounces/240 milliliters) unless your doctor directs you otherwise.
Because this combination product has fixed doses of abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine, it should only be used if your doctor has determined that the doses of all 3 medications in this product are right for you.
If you stop taking any medication containing abacavir even for a short time and then restart the drug, you have an increased chance of developing a very serious (possibly fatal) allergic reaction. Refill your medication before you run out. Do not stop treatment unless directed by your doctor. Before restarting any medication containing abacavir, consult your doctor or pharmacist, and be sure you have easy access to medical care.
It is very important to keep taking this medication (and other HIV medications) exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses. Do not increase your dose, take this drug more often than prescribed, or stop taking it (or other HIV medicines) even for a short time unless directed to do so by your doctor. Skipping or changing your dose without approval from your doctor may cause the amount of virus to increase, make the infection more difficult to treat (resistant), or worsen side effects.
For the best effect, take this medication at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same times every day.