About abacavir
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Used for
- Treatment of HIV-1 infection, combined with other antiretroviral medicines
Usual adult dose
300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily, with other HIV medicines.
Usual dose in children
Children aged 3 months or older: 8 mg/kg twice daily or 16 mg/kg once daily, maximum 600 mg daily.
Common side effects
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, or abdominal pain
- Headache, tiredness, or fever
- Rash
- Hypersensitivity reaction, which can be life-threatening
Important warnings
- Screen for HLA-B*57:01 before treatment; do not use if positive.
- Stop immediately and permanently if hypersensitivity is suspected; never restart afterward.
- Symptoms may involve rash, fever, breathing problems, or gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Use caution with liver disease; monitor for lactic acidosis and severe liver enlargement.
Pregnancy
Can be used during pregnancy when clinically indicated; HIV treatment should not be interrupted. Seek specialist guidance.
Breastfeeding
HIV can pass through breast milk; breastfeeding is generally not recommended where safe alternatives are available.
Interactions
- Alcohol can increase abacavir exposure.
- Methadone levels may decrease; monitoring may be needed.
- Do not combine with other products containing abacavir.
- Ribavirin may increase risk of liver problems, especially with hepatitis C treatment.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.