|
 |
 |
| Trade Name(s): |
Ziagen
Tablets
300 mg
Oral solution
20 mg/mL
 Indicates Canadian Trade Name.
|
| Class: |
Anti-infective
Antiviral
|
 Action: |
Converted by cellular enzymes to carbovir triphosphate, which inhibits HIV-1 transcriptase and interferes with DNA synthesis.
|
 Indications: |
Treatment of HIV-1 in combination with other antiretroviral agents.
|
 Contraindications: |
Standard considerations.
|
 Route/Dosage: |
|
 Interactions: |
Ethanol:
Increases exposure to abacavir by decreasing the elimination and prolonging the half-life.
|
 Lab Test Interferences: |
None well documented.
|
 Adverse Reactions: |
cns:
Insomnia; sleep disorders; headache (children).
gi:
Nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; loss of appetite; anorexia; pancreatitis.
dermatologic:
Skin rashes (children).
metabolic:
Elevated blood glucose; elevated triglycerides.
other:
Hypersensitivity reactions (fever, rash, fatigue, GI symptoms, malaise, lethargy, myalgia, arthralgia, edema, shortness of breath, paresthesia, hypotension, death); fever (children).
|
 Precautions: |
Pregnancy:
Category C.
Lactation:
HIV infected mothers should not breastfeed their infants.
Elderly:
Select dose with caution, reflecting greater frequency of decreased hepatic, renal, or cardiac function and comorbidity.
Hypersensitivity:
Fatal hypersensitivity reactions have been associated with therapy.
Lactic acidosis/severe hepatomegaly with steatosis:
Have been reported.
|
 Administration/Storage: |
Store the oral solution at room temperature
(68° to 77° F). The solution may be refrigerated but do not freeze.
Administer with or without meals.
Always give in combination with other anti-retroviral agents.
|
 Assessment/Interventions: |
Obtain patient history, including drug history and any known allergies.
Monitor for signs of hypersensitivity and discontinue use of medicine immediately if signs of hypersensitivity are present.
Monitor for physical signs of hypersensitivity such as lymphadenopathy, mucous membrane lesions (eg, conjunctivitis, mouth ulcerations), and rash
Do not restart therapy following a hypersensitivity reaction.
Discontinue therapy in patients with signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis hepatic or hepatomegaly or steatosis (fatty degeneration).
Monitor for elevation of LFTs, increased creatine, phosphokinase, or creatinine, and for decreased lymphocytes.
Monitor for blood glucose and triglyceride elevation, which may require adjustment in therapy for some patients such as those with diabetes.
Monitor for signs and symptoms of pancreatitis.
|
 Patient/Family Education: |
Tell patient that abacavir tablets and oral solution are for oral ingestion only.
Instruct patient to take abacavir at the same time each day as prescribed in combination with another antiviral agent and to not skip a dose, which could increase the viral load.
Instruct patient to avoid
otc
medications, unless prescribed by primary health care provider.
Instruct patient that abacavir is not a cure for the HIV infection and he/she may continue to develop opportunistic infections and other complication of the HIV infection, and to remain under close observation by health care professionals experienced in the treatment of patients with HIV-associated diseases.
Caution patient that long-term effects of abacavir and results from controlled-clinical trials evaluating therapeutic and adverse effects are not known. Therefore, report any problem to heath care provider.
Warn patient of potential adverse effects and drug/drug interactions.
Instruct patient to notify primary care provider immediately if signs of a rash or a rash accompanied by fever, blistering, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, swelling, muscle or joints aches, or general malaise, infection
(eg, sore throat, fever, cough), and respiratory congestion occur.
Warn the patient of potential adverse or toxic effects if taken with alcohol, as alcohol decreases the elimination of the drug.
Inform patient that abacavir has not been shown to reduce the risk of passing HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Encourage patient to abstain or practice safe sex and not share needles.
Instruct patient in methods and precautions to prevent transmission of the HIV virus.
Caution mothers to discontinue nursing while they are receiving abacavir as there is potential for adverse effect from the drug in nursing infants and well as transmission of the HIV virus.
Caution women of childbearing age to inform health care provider if planning to become pregnant.
Stress importance of regular exams and laboratory work.
Encourage patient to comply with the treatment regimen and to take exactly as prescribed.
|
|
