Drug Database: Abacavir / Lamivudine

What is abacavir/lamivudine?What is abacavir/lamivudine?

What is abacavir/lamivudine?

Abacavir/lamivudine is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and in children who weigh at least 55 lb (25 kg). Abacavir/lamivudine is always used in combination with other HIV medicines. 

Abacavir/lamivudine contains two different medicines: abacavir and lamivudine.

For more information on the use of abacavir/lamivudine in people with HIV, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.

HIV medicines cannot cure HIV/AIDS, but taking HIV medicines every day helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission. If you are taking HIV medicines, do not cut down on, skip, or stop taking them unless your health care provider tells you to.

What should I tell my health care provider before taking abacavir/lamivudine?What should I tell my health care provider before taking abacavir/lamivudine?

What should I tell my health care provider before taking abacavir/lamivudine?

Before taking abacavir/lamivudine, tell your health care provider:

• If you are allergic to either of the HIV medicines in abacavir/lamivudine (abacavir or lamivudine) or any other medicines.
• If you have been tested and know whether you have a particular gene variation called HLA-B*5701.
• If you have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B virus infection (HBV) or hepatitis C virus infection (HCV).
• If you have kidney problems.
• If you have heart problems; smoke; or have diseases that increase your risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
• If you have any other medical conditions.
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of taking abacavir/lamivudine during pregnancy. For more information on the use of abacavir/lamivudine during pregnancy, please refer to the Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States.
• If you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. For mothers with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. Mothers with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk. Although most medicines are safe to use while breastfeeding, some medicines should be avoided. Always let your health care provider know about all the medicines and supplements you are using before you start breastfeeding.
• If you are using hormone-based birth control (such as pills, implants, or vaginal rings). For more information about using birth control and HIV medicines at the same time, view the HIVinfo HIV and Birth Control infographic.
• About other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking or plan to take. Abacavir/lamivudine may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how abacavir/lamivudine works. Taking abacavir/lamivudine together with certain medicines or products may cause serious side effects.

How should I take abacavir/lamivudine?How should I take abacavir/lamivudine?

How should I take abacavir/lamivudine?

Abacavir/lamivudine comes in tablet form. Each tablet contains:

• 600 mg abacavir
• 300 mg lamivudine

Take abacavir/lamivudine according to your health care provider’s instructions. Do not miss a dose of abacavir/lamivudine, and do not change your dose or stop taking abacavir/lamivudine without first talking with your health care provider.

Take abacavir/lamivudine by mouth with or without food. Tell your health care provider if your child has trouble swallowing abacavir/lamivudine tablets.

Always take abacavir/lamivudine in combination with other HIV medicines.

If you have taken too much abacavir/lamivudine, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222 or online) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

For more information on how to take abacavir/lamivudine, see the FDA drug label.

What should I do if I forget a dose?What should I do if I forget a dose?

What should I do if I forget a dose?

If you miss a dose of abacavir/lamivudine, take the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose.

If you miss several doses of abacavir/lamivudine, contact your health care provider before taking it again. Taking abacavir/lamivudine again after missing doses, even for a few days, can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction. If your health care provider tells you that you can take abacavir/lamivudine again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a health care provider if you need one.

What side effects can abacavir/lamivudine cause?What side effects can abacavir/lamivudine cause?

What side effects can abacavir/lamivudine cause?

Abacavir/lamivudine may cause side effects. Some side effects of abacavir/lamivudine can be serious as noted above. Many side effects from HIV medicines, such as nausea or occasional dizziness, are manageable. See the HIVinfo fact sheet on HIV Medicines and Side Effects for more information.

Other possible side effects of abacavir/lamivudine include:

• Changes in your immune system (called immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome or IRIS). IRIS is a condition that sometimes occurs when the immune system begins to recover after treatment with an HIV medicine. As the immune system gets stronger, it may have an increased response to a previously hidden infection.
• Increased risk of heart attack (myocardial infarction).

Tell your health care provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

These are not all the possible side effects of abacavir/lamivudine. To learn more about possible side effects of abacavir/lamivudine, read the drug label or package insert or talk to your health care provider or pharmacist.

You can report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088) or online.

How should abacavir/lamivudine be stored?How should abacavir/lamivudine be stored?

How should abacavir/lamivudine be stored?

• Store abacavir/lamivudine at room temperature, 77°F (25°C).
• Keep abacavir/lamivudine in the container that it came in and keep the container tightly closed.
• Do not use abacavir/lamivudine if the original seal over the container opening is broken or missing.
• Throw away abacavir/lamivudine that is no longer needed or expired (out of date). Follow FDA guidelines on how to safely dispose of unused medicine.
• Keep abacavir/lamivudine and all medicines out of reach of children.

Where can I find more information about abacavir/lamivudine?Where can I find more information about abacavir/lamivudine?

Where can I find more information about abacavir/lamivudine?

• For more information on the use of abacavir/lamivudine in people with HIV, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents with HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection.

• This Patient Version drug summary is based on the following FDA label(s): Tablet (film coated). The Medication Guide includes information for people taking abacavir/lamivudine. 

• Research studies related to abacavir/lamivudine, from ClinicalTrials.gov. (The ClinicalTrials.gov search can be modified so that you can get results that better match your interests.)
• A list of FDA-approved HIV medicines, from HIVinfo.