Abacavir

Brand Names: Ziagen

Class: Anti-infective, Antiviral

Why is Abacavir Prescribed?

Abacavir inmainly indicated in Treatment of HIV-1 in combination with other antiretroviral agents. Abacavir is in a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It is  converted by cellular enzymes to carbovir triphosphate, which inhibits HIV-1 transcriptase and interferes with DNA synthesis. remmebr it only slows down HIV infection but can never cure it.
How should Abacavir be used?
Tablets: 300 mg
Oral solution: 20 mg/mL
Other uses of Abacavir
Take abacavir at around the same time(s) every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take abacavir exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.

Route/Dosage
Adults: PO 300 mg bid in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

Adolescents and Children 3 mo to up to 16 yr: PO 8 mg/kg bid (max dose, 300 mg bid) in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

Store the oral solution at room temperature (68° to 77° F). The solution may be refrigerated but do not freeze.  Administer with or without meals.  Always give in combination with other antiretroviral agents.

Abacavir and Special Precaution

• Pregnancy: Category C.
• Lactation: Undetermined; however, HIV-infected mothers should not breastfeed infants.
• Children: Safety and efficacy not established in children under 3 mo.
• Elderly: Select dose with caution, reflecting greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and comorbidity. Hypersensitivity: Fatal hypersensitivity reactions have been associated with therapy.
• Lactic acidosis/Severe hepatomegaly with steatosis: Lactic acidosis/severe hepatomegaly with steatosis have been reported.

Side Effects of Abacavir

Nervous System: Insomnia; sleep disorders; headache (children).

Gastro Intestinal Side effects: Nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; loss of appetite; anorexia; pancreatitis.

Skin side effects: Skin rashes (children).

Metabolic side effects: Elevated blood glucose; elevated triglycerides.

OTHER: Hypersensitivity reactions (eg, fever, rash, fatigue, GI symptoms, malaise, lethargy, myalgia, arthralgia, edema, shortness of breath, paresthesia, hypotension, death); fever (children).

Special informations for Abacavir

• Abacavir tablets and oral solution are for oral ingestion only.
• Take abacavir at the same time each day as prescribed in combination with another antiviral agent and to not skip a dose, which could increase the viral load.
• Avoid OTC medications, unless prescribed by primary health care provider.
• Abacavir is not a cure for the HIV infection and he/she may continue to develop opportunistic infections and other complication of the HIV infection, and to remain under close observation by health care professionals experienced in the treatment of patients with HIV-associated diseases.
• Long-term effects of abacavir and results from controlled-clinical trials evaluating therapeutic and adverse effects are not known. Therefore, report any problem to heath care provider.
• Notify health care provider immediately if signs of a rash or a rash accompanied by fever, blistering, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, swelling, muscle or joints aches, or general malaise, infection (eg, sore throat, fever, cough), and respiratory congestion occur.
• Potential adverse or toxic effects if taken with alcohol, as alcohol decreases the elimination of the drug.
  Abacavir has not been shown to reduce the risk of passing HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Encourage patient to abstain or practice safe sex and not share needles.
• Women of childbearing age to inform health care provider if planning to become pregnant.
  Comply with the treatment regimen and to take exactly as prescribed.