Medications and Drugs
GENERIC NAME: ABACAVIR - ORAL (uh-BACK-uh-veer)
BRAND NAME(S): Ziagen
Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert
WARNING: Infrequently, this drug can cause severe (sometimes fatal) allergic reactions, liver problems, and blood acid-base balance (lactic acidosis) problems. If you develop symptoms such as rash, fever, fatigue, difficult or rapid breathing, cough, throat inflammation, dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, drowsiness, muscle aches, stomach/abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea immediately stop using this medication and notify your doctor. Do not restart this medication if an allergic reaction to this drug has occurred because more severe, life-threatening problems could occur (including low blood pressure and death). Also, if an allergic reaction is only suspected, this medication should never be restarted. (See precautions regarding stopping and starting this medication.) It is not known how long this drug will benefit those with HIV infection.
USES: This medication is used to treat HIV infection in combination with other anti-HIV medications. One group of HIV medications (the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors-NRTIs such as zidovudine and lamivudine) are very useful. However, NRTIs are recommended to be used in combination with other groups of HIV medications in order to be effective. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth as directed, generally twice daily with or without food. Dosage is based on your condition and response to therapy. Read the Medication Guide provided by your pharmacist. Carry the "Warning Card" with you at all times. It is very important to continue taking this medication and other anti-HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not skip any doses.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
- Drug Interactions - Learn about potential drug interactions you may be exposed to. Drug interactions can occur with prescription drugs, OTC medication, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Read about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes, symptoms, signs, treatment, prevention, transmission, facts, testing, research (vaccine), statistics and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
- Drugs: What You Should Know About Your Drugs - Find out what you should know about your drugs such as side effects, warnings and precautions, storage information, and if a generic version is as good as the brand name.
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