Ziagen
Generic name:abacavir [ a-BAK-a-veer ]
Drug class:Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs)
What is Ziagen?
Ziagen is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.
Ziagen is used to treat HIV, the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Ziagen is for adults and children who are at least 3 months old. This medicine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Ziagen 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 Ziagen, if you have moderate to severe liver disease, or if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 allele.
Stop using Ziagen 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.
Ziagen can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have pain or swelling in your upper stomach, tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Before taking this medicine
You should not use Ziagen if:
you have moderate or severe liver disease;
you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 allele (your doctor will test you for this); or
you have had an allergic reaction to any medicine that contains Ziagen (such as Ziagen, Epzicom, Triumeq, or Trizivir).
Many combination HIV medicines have Ziagen as an ingredient. Ziagen should not be taken together with any other medicine that contains this medicine.
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've taken HIV medication for a long time, or if you are a woman. Ask your doctor about your risk.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
