Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by admin
Abec Tablet INTRODUCTION
SALT COMPOSITION:
Abacavir (300mg)
ABEC is a combination of Abacavir which belongs to the group of medicines called Anti-viral agents. It is used in the treatment of HIV infection in adults, adolescents and in children (weighing above 25 kgs). HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection is a viral infection that damages our immune system and weakens our body’s ability to fight against various infections.
Both abacavir are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. They work by blocking the actions of certain viral enzymes (HIV-reverse transcriptase) that is required for the viral cell to grow and multiply. This prevents further multiplication of viral cells within the body. Also, they can improve immunity in the affected patients by increasing the number of certain types of white blood cells (CD4) in the body which is required to fight against various infections.
ABEC cannot not cure HIV infection completely. It can reduce only the number of viral cells present in the body and maintains them at a lower level. During treatment with ABEC your doctor will closely monitor your body weight, blood cholesterol levels and blood sugar levels to reduce the risk of unwanted side effects.
Do not take ABEC if you are allergic to abacavir. Before taking ABEC inform your doctor if you have diabetes or any liver (hepatitis C or B infection), kidney or heart problems. If you are already taking ABEC to treat hepatitis B or C infection, do not stop taking it without consulting your doctor.
Even if you take ABEC, it is important for you to follow certain measures to prevent the spread of infections to the other people (such as avoid having unprotected sexual intercourse or sharing needles or personal items like toothbrush, razors etc with other people). ABEC is not recommended for use in pregnant or breastfeeding women.
The most common side effects of taking ABEC are difficulty in sleeping, increased signs of infections, nausea, stomach pain, headache, or dizziness. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects worsens. Also inform your doctor immediately if you experience severe fever with extreme tiredness, sudden changes in body weight or severe stomach pain along with dark urine after taking ABEC.
USES OF ABEC
- Treats HIV infection in adults, adolescents and in children (weighing above 25 kgs)
HOW ABEC WORKS
ABEC is an anti-retroviral medicine. It controls the multiplication of viral cell within the body, by blocking the actions of certain viral enzymes (HIV-reverse transcriptase) that is required for the viral cell to grow and multiply. It can also improve immunity in the affected patients by increasing the number of certain types of white blood cells (CD4) in the body which is required to fight against various infections.
DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Take ABEC as directed by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. ABEC can be taken with or without meals.
Your doctor will decide the correct dose and for how long ABEC must be taken depending upon your age, body weight and severity of the infection. Do not stop taking ABEC without consulting your doctor as it may reduce its effectiveness.
SIDE EFFECTS OF ABEC
COMMON
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Feeling depressed
- Headache, tiredness, dizziness
- Nausea, diarrhoea
- Fever, skin rash
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
- Irritated or runny nose
- Hair loss
UNCOMMON
- Decrease in RBC, WBC, and platelets
RARE
Stop taking ABEC and contact your doctor immediately if you experience any of the following side effects:
- Signs of allergic reactions (such as skin rash, fever, accompanied with sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness, joint pain, muscle pain, swelling of the neck, difficulty in breathing, mouth ulcers, occasional headaches, inflammation of the eye, low blood pressure, sense of tingling or numbness of hands or feet)
- Pure red cell aplasia (failure of bone marrow to produce new red blood cells)
- Signs of infections (such as fever, headache, stomach-ache, breathing difficulty)
- Signs of auto-immune disorders (such as rapid or irregular heartbeat, tremor, hyperactivity, general weakness)
- Signs of osteonecrosis (death of bone cells causing joint stiffness, pain in the hip, knee or shoulder and difficulty in moving)
- Signs of liver problems (such as yellowing of the skin and whites of the eye, dark urine, light-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea, pain, tenderness on the right side of stomach)
- Heart attack
- Changes in body fat (such as increase fat in the shoulder and neck (buffalo hump), breast, and in the middle body or fat loss from the legs, arms, or face)
HOW TO MANAGE SIDE EFFECTS
Headache:
Rest and relax. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids such as water or electrolytes. Applying a pain-relieving balm on your forehead can be beneficial. Do not consume excessive alcohol, as it could aggravate your headache. Consult your doctor if your headache worsens.
Dizziness:
Try to rest and relax. Get enough sleep. Avoid driving or operating any tools or machines completely while you are feeling dizzy. Do not consume excessive alcohol, as it could aggravate your dizziness. Consult your doctor if your dizziness worsens.
Nausea and Vomiting:
Take ABEC with or just after a meal or a snack. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating rich or spicy food. Consult your doctor if your nausea worsens.
WARNING & PRECAUTIONS
PREGNANCY
PREGNANCYABEC is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
BREASTFEEDING
BREASTFEEDINGBreastfeeding should be discontinued in mothers infected with HIV infection. However, consult your doctor before taking ABEC if you wish to breastfeed.
DRIVING AND USING MACHINES
DRIVING AND USING MACHINESDo not drive or operate any machines if your ability is affected by ABEC.
ALCOHOL
ALCOHOLAvoid consumption of alcohol while taking ABEC.
KIDNEY
KIDNEYABEC should be used with caution in patients with kidney problems. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
LIVER
LIVERABEC should be used with caution in patients with moderate to severe liver diseases (such as Hepatitis B or C). Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
ALLERGY
Do not take ABEC if you are allergic to abacavir.
HEART DISEASE
ABEC should be used with caution in patients with heart problems (such as high blood pressure). Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
OTHERS
ABEC is not recommended for use if you:
- Have a genetic problem (called as HLA-B*5701 allele)
Before taking ABEC inform your doctor if you:
- Are overweight
- Have diabetes
- Have high blood cholesterol levels
- Smoke
Use in pediatrics:
ABEC should be used with caution in children weighing above 25kg if prescribed by a physician. It is not recommended for use in children weighing less than 25kg. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
Use in geriatrics:
ABEC should be used with caution in elderly people. Therefore, consult your doctor before taking it.
INTERACTIONS
A. Drug-Drug Interaction:
Before taking ABEC inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines such as:
- Emtricitabine (another medicine used to treat HIV infection)
- Co-trimoxazole (trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole) used to treat bacterial infections
- Cladribine (an anti-cancer medicine used to treat hairy cell leukaemia)
- Phenytoin (a medicine used to treat epilepsy)
- Methadone (a medicine used for pain relief)
- Medicines containing sorbitol and other sugar alcohols such as xylitol, mannitol, lactitol or maltitol
- Riociguat (a medicine used to treat increased pressure in the lungs)
Overdosage:
If you or anyone else accidentally took more ABEC, consult your doctor immediately.
SYNOPSIS
| Drug | : | Abacavir |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Anti-Retroviral drugs |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | HIV infection |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet |
MORE INFORMATION
- Keep ABEC out of reach of children
- Store ABEC at room temperature
FAQs ABOUT ABEC
Q: What is ABEC?
A: ABEC is an antiviral medicine used to treat HIV infection. It can be used in adults, adolescents and in children (who weighs above 25 kg). It acts by reducing the multiplication of viral cells within the body. It also improves immunity by increasing the numbers of certain white blood cells (CD4) in the body which is required to fight against various infections.
Q: Is ABEC safe?
A: ABEC should be used only under medical supervision. It may cause few side effects like difficulty in sleeping, increased signs of infections, fever, nausea, stomach pain, headache, or dizziness. Consult your doctor if any of these side effects worsens. Also inform your doctor if you experience severe fever with extreme tiredness, sudden changes in weight or severe stomach pain along with dark urine after taking ABEC.
Q: How does ABEC work in our body?
A: ABEC acts by blocking the actions of certain viral enzymes (HIV-reverse transcriptase) that is required for the viral cell to grow and multiply. This reduces multiplication of viral cells. It can also offer immunity in the affected patients by increasing the number of certain types of white blood cells (CD4) in the body which is required to fight against various infection.
Q: What are the signs of hypersensitive reaction that is possible after taking ABEC?
A: ABEC may cause certain signs of infections or hypersensitive reactions such as skin rash, fever, accompanied with sore throat, cough, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness, joint pain, muscle pain, swelling of the neck or difficulty in breathing. If you experience any of these side effects, stop taking ABEC and consult your doctor immediately.
Q: Can I stop taking ABEC if I feel unwell?
A: No. Do not stop taking ABEC without consulting your doctor. Take ABEC regularly, because if you miss a dose of ABEC or take it at irregular intervals, you may experience some unpleasant reactions. If you wish to discontinue ABEC due to unpleasant symptoms, consult your doctor for advice.
Q: What to do if I forget to take a dose of ABEC?
A: If you miss a dose of ABEC take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is time to take the next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one at regular time. Do not take a double dose of ABEC to compensate the missed dose.
Q: Can ABEC cure HIV completely?
A: No. ABEC cannot not cure HIV infection completely. It can reduce only the number of viral cells present in the body and maintains them at a lower level.
Q: What are the precautions to be followed while taking ABEC?
A: Before taking ABEC inform your doctor if you have diabetes or any liver (hepatitis C or B infection), kidney or heart problems. Regularly visit your doctor and take all the blood tests recommended for you. Consult your doctor before taking ABEC if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not stop taking ABEC without consulting your doctor. Take ABEC regularly without fail. Inform your doctor immediately if you experience any signs of allergic reactions after taking ABEC.
Q: Can ABEC be used in children?
A: Yes. ABEC should be used with caution in children weighing above 25kg if prescribed by a physician. It is not suitable for use in children weighing less than 25kg due to lack of safety data.
Q: How to take ABEC?
A: Take ABEC as directed by your physician. Swallow the medicine with a glass of water. Do not crush or chew the medicine. ABEC can be taken with or without meals. Continue to take ABEC regularly as advised by your physician for maximum benefits.
REFERENCES:
- K.D. Tripathi. Antiviral Drugs. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. 7th Edition. 2013. Page – 807-808.
- Tomoko Kurita, Tomomi Kitaichi, Takako Nagao, Toshiyuki Miura, and Yoshifumi Kitazono. Safety analysis of Epzicom® (lamivudine/abacavir sulfate) in post-marketing surveillance in Japan. NIH. National Library of Medicine. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PMC. PubMed Central. March 2014. [Accessed on 23rd June 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4230469/
- Lupin Healthcare (UK). Limited Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC) [Revised on March 2021] [Accessed on 6th April 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.7375.pdf
- Teva Pharma B.V [Revised in January 2020] [Accessed on 6th April 2022] https://www.hpra.ie/img/uploaded/swedocuments/dc1ed8d0-730c-42eb-92b3-3ec7ce4eb318.pdf
- GlaxoSmithKline. U.S. Food & Drug Administration [Revised on March 2013] [Accessed on 6th April 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/021652s022lbl.pdf
