ZIAGEN (ABACAVIR)

This chapter provides basic characteristics, FDA-approved indications, side effects/toxicity, dosage information, drug/food interactions and antimicrobial therapy art of Ziagen (abacavir). Abacavir is approved to be used in combination with other antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV infection. Serious and sometimes fatal hypersensitivity reactions, with multiple organ involvement, have occurred with abacavir tablets (abacavir). Abacavir tablets are contraindicated in patients with a prior hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir and in HLA-B*5701-positive patients. All patients should be screened for the HLA-B*5701 allele prior to initiating therapy with abacavir tablets or reinitiation of therapy with abacavir tablets, unless patients have a previously documented HLA-B*5701 allele assessment. Abacavir is administered in a 300 mg tablet or in a strawberry-banana flavored liquid, which contains 20 mg/cc. The recommended adult dose is 300 mg twice daily or 600 mg once daily.