Remember too always seek the advice of your clinician or health worker before starting or stopping any medication, and never take anyone else's. MORE INFO ON ALL DRUGS CAN BE FOUND AT AIDSMAP.COM or your local clinic
APPROVED DOSAGE: one 300mg yellow-orange tablet twice daily.
CHILDREN: Liquid formulation available.
TIPS ON TAKING: Abacavir can be taken with or without food.
COMMON SIDE-EFFECTS: Nausea and vomiting; headaches; weakness; diarrhoea; insomnia; dizziness, and abdominal pain. An allergic reaction (often involving fever and rash) occurs in 3% of people taking abacavir, usually within four weeks of starting the drug. See your doctor immediately if youdevelop a rash while on abacavir. It is dangerous to re-try abacavir if you have had an allergic reaction to it previously.
RARE SIDE-EFFECTS: Liver problems.
RESISTANCE TO ABACAVIR: Abacavir may be ineffective if you have extensive experience with AZT/3TC and/or ddl.
KEY DRUG INTERACTIONS: No significant drug interactions yet identified.
BRAIN: Abacavir may cross the blood-brain barrier and may be effective against HIV in the brain. Abacavir is also available in a combined form with AZT and 3TC. The AZT/3TC/abacavir pill is called Trizivir. In the UK it is currently only available through an expanded access scheme.
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