Medication Information Leaflet
Abacavir is an antiretroviral medication used for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It works by preventing the virus from reproducing, and hence, reducing the amount of virus in your body. This increases the CD4 cell count in your body. CD4 cells are a type of immune cells that help your body fight off infections.
Abacavir is not a cure for HIV infection. It must be taken consistently every day to slow the progression of the disease.
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Inform your healthcare professional if these side effects persist or are intolerable.
Abacavir can cause a serious allergy reaction known as Abacavir-associated hypersensitivity reaction. This is characterised by:
It can occur any time during the treatment with Abacavir but is more likely during the first 6 weeks of treatment initiation. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately. You are more likely to develop a hypersensitivity reaction to Abacavir if you have the HLA-B*5701 gene. If you have been tested positive for this gene, your physician will not commence you on Abacavir therapy.
Rarely, Abacavir can cause a build-up of acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Consult your doctor if you experience signs of lactic acidosis such as:
Liver problem can occur in people taking Abacavir. Consult your doctor if you experience signs of liver problem such as:
A higher chance of heart attack was seen in people who took Abacavir. It is not known if this effect is caused by Abacavir. Seek medical consult immediately if you experience signs of heart attack such as:
Not applicable
Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.
Pack the medication into a bag and bring it back to the pharmacy where you received the medication from.
Please take note that the above is not a complete list of all possible side effects. If you have any concerns about your medication or if you have other side effects that you think are caused by this medication, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.
If you take more than the recommended dose, please seek medical advice immediately. The information provided on this page does not replace information from your healthcare professional. Please consult your healthcare professional for more information.
This article is jointly developed by members of the National Medication Information workgroup. The workgroup consists of cluster partners (National Healthcare Group, National University Health System and SingHealth), community pharmacies (Guardian, Unity and Watsons) and Pharmaceutical Society of Singapore. The content does not reflect drug availability and supply information in pharmacies and healthcare institutions. You are advised to check with the respective institutions for such information.
Last updated on August 2023
This article was last reviewed on Wednesday, August 28, 2024