Generic name: abacavir [ a-BAK-a-veer ]
Brand name: Ziagen
Dosage forms: oral solution (20 mg/mL); oral tablet (300 mg)
Drug class:Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
What is abacavir?
Abacavir is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.
Abacavir is used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). abacavir is for adults and children who are at least 3 months old. Abacavir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Abacavir may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Warnings
You should not take this medicine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any medicine that contains abacavir, if you have moderate to severe liver disease, or if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 allele.
Stop using abacavir 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.
You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. Call your doctor or get emergency medical help if you have unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain, dizziness, feeling cold, or feeling very weak or tired.
Abacavir can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver. Call your doctor at once...
