Abacavir and Lamivudine

Abacavir and Lamivudine are combination prescription medications used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medication is not a cure for HIV or AIDS. 

• Abacavir and Lamivudine are available under various brand names: Epzicom 

Common side effects of Abacavir and Lamivudine include:

• Allergic reaction.
• Depression, trouble sleeping.
• Feeling weak or tired.
• Headache, dizziness, migraine.
• Nausea, diarrhea; or
• Changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).

Serious side effects of Abacavir and Lamivudine include:

• Group 1 - fever.
• Group 2 - rash.
• Group 3 - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain.
• Group 4 - general ill feeling, extreme tiredness, body aches.
• Group 5 - shortness of breath, cough, sore throat.
• Other signs of an allergic reaction--hives, swelling in your face or throat, and trouble breathing.
• Lactic acidosis--unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, vomiting, fast/slow or irregular heartbeats, dizziness, feeling cold, feeling very weak or tired; or
• Liver problems--loss of appetite, stomach pain (upper right side), tiredness, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, cold sores, cough, wheezing, diarrhea, weight loss.
• Trouble speaking or swallowing, problems with balance or eye movement, weakness, or prickly feeling; or
• Swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence.

Rare side effects of Nitrofurantoin include:

• none

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

• Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.
• Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights.
• Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in the chest; shortness of breath; sudden dizziness, lightheartedness, or passing out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems that may occur because of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Tablet

• 600 mg/300 mg

HIV-1 infection, treatment

Adult dosage

• Oral: 1 tablet (abacavir 600 mg and lamivudine 300 mg) once daily as part of an appropriate combination regimen.

Pediatric dosage

• Children and Adolescents weighing above 25 kg: 
• Oral: 1 tablet (abacavir 600 mg/lamivudine 300 mg) once daily.

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first.

• Abacavir and Lamivudine have severe interactions with the following drug:
• Elvitegravir/cobicistat/emtricitabine/tenofovir DF
• Abacavir and Lamivudine have serious interactions with the following drugs:
  • Cabotegravir
  • Ganciclovir
  • Ribavirin
  • Valganciclovir
• Abacavir and Lamivudine have moderate interactions with the following drugs:
  • Atazanavir
  • Cabozantinib
  • Didanosine
  • Efavirenz
  • Emtricitabine
  • Enfuvirtide
  • Fosamprenavir
  • Indinavir
  • Lamivudine
  • Methadone
  • Nelfinavir
  • Nevirapine
  • Orlistat
  • Riociguat
  • Ritonavir
  • Asaquinavir
  • Stavudine
  • Tenofovir DF
  • Tipranavir
  • Zidovudine
• Abacavir and Lamivudine have minor interactions with the following drug:
  • Ethanol

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the rxlist Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist about all your products. Keep a list of all your medications with you and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity to abacavir or lamivudine
• If you have liver disease.
• If you have ever tested positive for a gene variation called HLA-B*5701; or
• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine that contains abacavir or lamivudine (Combivir, Epivir, Triumeq, Trizivir, Ziagen). 

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Abacavir and Lamivudine?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Abacavir and Lamivudine?”

Cautions

• You should not take this medicine if you have liver disease, or if you have ever tested positive for a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. Do not take this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine that contains abacavir or lamivudine.
• Stop taking Abacavir and Lamivudine and call your doctor at once if you have signs of an allergic reaction: fever; rash; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain; general ill feeling, extreme tiredness, body aches; shortness of breath, cough, sore throat.
• If you've ever had hepatitis B, it may become active or get worse after you stop using Abacavir and Lamivudine. You may need frequent liver function tests for several months.
• Abacavir and Lamivudine should not be given to a child who weighs less than 55 pounds.
• Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
• You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. This may be more likely if you have other medical conditions, if you are overweight, or if you are a woman. Ask your doctor about your risk.

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant and use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.
• Lactation
  • Women with HIV or AIDS should not breastfeed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.