Patient's Guide to Abacavir or Ziagen Risks and Side-effects

Abacavir is a medication, often used in combination with other medications, that helps to control HIV infections, to help improve an HIV patient's quality of life.

It may help to lower a patient's risk of developing HIV-related complications, such as cancers and new infections. This medications is classified as a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). This medication will not prevent a patient from spreading HIV and it will not cure this disease.

Abacavir Side Effects

Abavacir, like all medications, can cause side effects.

The common side effects are as follows:
about 19 percent of patients experience nausea
about 13 percent of patients experience headaches
about 12 percent of patients experience malaise (general ill feeling and fatigue)
about 10 percent of patients experience nausea with vomiting
about 10 percent of patients experience sleep disorders, such as nightmares or insomnia
about 5 to 9 percent of patients experience the other common side effects which include the following: diarrhea, bone or muscle pain, viral respiratory infections (example: the common cold), fever or chills, nose/ear/throat infections, and dizziness.

Loss of appetite, body fat distribution changes, and mental or mood changes may also occur. Possible complications of this medication include anemia, low blood platelets (signs include abnormal bruising or bleeding), depression, anxiety, and neutropenia (frequent infections can be a sign of this complication).

A condition referred to as lactic acidosis can also occur when taking abacavir. This condition occurs when the levels of lactic acid in the blood are too high.

Sign of lactic acidosis include the following: feeling weak or tired, trouble breathing, feeling cold, lightheadedness or dizziness, persistent abdominal pain/vomiting/nausea, a tender or enlarged liver, muscle pain, abdominal pain, blue or cold feet and hands, irregular or slow heartbeat, shortness of breath, and weight loss.

Abacavir Contraindications

This medication may not mix well with certain medical conditions. Such condition include liver problems (such as cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C), alcohol use, kidney problems, heart disease and other heart problems, smoking, pregnancy, breast feeding, and other conditions as noted by the patient's doctor and/or pharmacist.

Abacavir Drug Interactions

Abacavir and certain other medications and drugs may interact. These include methadone and alcohol. Patients should tell their doctor and pharmacist about all herbs, prescription medications, supplements, vitamins, and over-the-counter medications they are taking so that their doctor and/or pharmacist can help to ensure no dangerous interactions occur when the patient begins taking abacavir.