Formulary Monographs [ABACAVIR, 08180820]
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ABACAVIR
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NRTI
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Indicated in combination with other anti-HIV medications for the
treatment of HIV-1 for adults and children. |
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Nausea, vomiting, fatigue, headache, diarrhoea and loss of appetite. Fatal lactic acidosis and severe hep atomegaly with steatosis have been reported. Fatal hypersensitivity reactions include skin rash, fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, pharyngitis, dyspnea or cough. Re-introduction of abacavir after an interrup tion in therapy can cause a severe or fatal hypersensitivity reaction, even in patients without a history of hypersensitivity to abacavir during the p revious course(s) of therapy .
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Adult: Recommended dosing is 300mg orally twice daily with or without food. Pediatric: 3 months - 16 years of age is 8mg/kg orally twice daily (up to a maximum of 300mg twice daily ). Abacavir should be used in combination with other antiretrovirals.
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Alcohol reduces the metabolism of abacavir.
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The animal data suggest moderate risk. Although the human pregnancy experience does not suggest a risk of structural anomalies, other potential developmental toxicities require study.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other experts recommend that HIV-infected women not breast-feed infants, regardless of antiretroviral therapy due to the risk of transmitting the virus through breastfeeding.
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