Abacavir

Abacavir sulfate USP is a white to off-white solid with a solubility of approximately 77 mg/mL in distilled water at 25°C. It has an octanol/water (pH 7.1 to 7.3) partition coefficient (log P) of approximately 1.2 at 25°C.
 
Abacavir tablets USP are for oral administration. Each tablet contains abacavir sulfate USP equivalent to 300 mg of abacavir as active ingredient and the following inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate. The tablets are coated with a film that is made of hypromellose, iron oxide yellow, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.

In vivo, abacavir sulfate dissociates to its free base, abacavir. All dosages for abacavir sulfate are expressed in terms of abacavir.

12 CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY

12.1 Mechanism of Action

Abacavir is an antiviral agent [See Clinical Pharmacology (12.4)].

12.3 Pharmacokinetics

Pharmacokinetics in Adults: The pharmacokinetic properties of abacavir have been studied in asymptomatic, HIV-1-infected adult subjects after administration of a single intravenous (IV) dose of 150 mg and after single and multiple oral doses. The pharmacokinetic properties of abacavir were independent of dose over the range of 300 to 1,200 mg/day.

Absorption and Bioavailability: Abacavir was rapidly and extensively absorbed after oral administration. The geometric mean absolute bioavailability of the tablet was 83%. After oral administration of 300 mg twice daily in 20 subjects, the steady-state peak serum abacavir concentration (C_max) was 3 ± 0.89 mcg/mL (mean ± SD) and AUC_{(0-12 hr)} was 6.02 ± 1.73 mcg•hr/mL. After oral administration of a single dose of 600 mg of abacavir in 20 subjects, C_max was 4.26 ± 1.19 mcg/mL (mean ± SD) and AUC∞ was 11.95 ± 2.51 mcg•hr/mL.

Distribution: The apparent volume of distribution after IV administration of abacavir was 0.86 ± 0.15 L/kg, suggesting that abacavir distributes into extravascular space. In 3 subjects, the CSF AUC_{(0-6 hr)} to plasma abacavir AUC_{(0-6 hr)} ratio ranged from 27% to 33%.
 
Binding of abacavir to human plasma proteins is approximately 50%. Binding of abacavir to plasma proteins was independent of concentration. Total blood and plasma drug-related radioactivity concentrations are identical, demonstrating that abacavir readily distributes into erythrocytes.

Metabolism: In humans, abacavir is not significantly metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes. The primary routes of elimination of abacavir are metabolism by alcohol dehydrogenase (to form the 5'-carboxylic acid) and glucuronyl transferase (to form the 5'-glucuronide). The metabolites do not have antiviral activity. In vitro experiments reveal that abacavir does not inhibit human CYP3A4, CYP2D6, or CYP2C9 activity at clinically relevant concentrations.

Elimination: Elimination of abacavir was quantified in a mass balance trial following administration of a 600 mg dose of  ¹⁴C-abacavir: 99% of the radioactivity was recovered, 1.2% was excreted in the urine as abacavir, 30% as the 5'-carboxylic acid metabolite, 36% as the 5'-glucuronide metabolite, and 15% as unidentified minor metabolites in the urine. Fecal elimination accounted for 16% of the dose.
 
In single-dose trials, the observed elimination half-life (t_1/2) was 1.54 ± 0.63 hours. After intravenous administration, total clearance was 0.8 ± 0.24 L/hr/kg (mean ± SD).

Effects of Food on Oral Absorption: Bioavailability of abacavir tablets was assessed in the fasting and fed states. There was no significant difference in systemic exposure (AUC_∞) in the fed and fasting states; therefore, abacavir sulfate tablets may be administered with or without food. Systemic exposure to abacavir was comparable after administration of abacavir sulfate oral solution and abacavir sulfate tablets. Therefore, these products may be used interchangeably.

Special Populations:  Renal Impairment: The pharmacokinetic properties of abacavir sulfate have not been determined in patients with impaired renal function. Renal excretion of unchanged abacavir is a minor route of elimination in humans.

Hepatic Impairment:  The pharmacokinetics of abacavir have been studied in subjects with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score 5 to 6). Results showed that there was a mean increase of 89% in the abacavir AUC and an increase of 58% in the half-life of abacavir after a single dose of 600 mg of abacavir. The AUCs of the metabolites were not modified by mild liver disease; however, the rates of formation and elimination of the metabolites were decreased. A dose of 200 mg (provided by 10 mL of abacavir sulfate oral solution) administered twice daily is recommended for patients with mild liver disease. The safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of abacavir have not been studied in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment; therefore abacavir sulfate is contraindicated in these patients.

Pediatric Patients: The pharmacokinetics of abacavir have been studied after either single or repeat doses of abacavir sulfate in 68 pediatric patients. Following multiple-dose administration of abacavir sulfate 8 mg/kg twice daily, steady-state AUC_{(0-12 hr)} and C_max were 9.8 ± 4.56 mcg•hr/mL and 3.71 ± 1.36 mcg/mL (mean ± SD), respectively [see Use in Specific Populations (8.4)]. In addition, to support dosing of abacavir sulfate scored tablet (300 mg) for pediatric patients 14 kg to greater than 30 kg, analysis of actual and simulated pharmacokinetic data indicated comparable exposures are expected following administration of 300 mg scored tablet and the 8 mg/kg dosing regimen using oral solution.

Geriatric Patients: The pharmacokinetics of abacavir sulfate have not been studied in patients over 65 years of age.

Gender: A population pharmacokinetic analysis in HIV-1-infected male (n = 304) and female (n = 67) subjects showed no gender differences in abacavir AUC normalized for lean body weight. 

Race: There are no significant differences between blacks and Caucasians in abacavir pharmacokinetics.

Drug Interactions: In human liver microsomes, abacavir did not inhibit cytochrome P450 isoforms (2C9, 2D6, 3A4). Based on these data, it is unlikely that clinically significant drug interactions will occur between abacavir and drugs metabolized through these pathways.

Lamivudine and/or Zidovudine: Due to the common metabolic pathways of abacavir and zidovudine via glucuronyl transferase, 15 HIV-1-infected subjects were enrolled in a crossover trial evaluating single doses of abacavir (600 mg), lamivudine (150 mg), and zidovudine (300 mg) alone or in combination. Analysis showed no clinically relevant changes in the pharmacokinetics of abacavir with the addition of lamivudine or zidovudine or the combination of lamivudine and zidovudine. Lamivudine exposure (AUC decreased 15%) and zidovudine exposure (AUC increased 10%) did not show clinically relevant changes with concurrent abacavir.

Ethanol: Due to the common metabolic pathways of abacavir and ethanol via alcohol dehydrogenase, the pharmacokinetic interaction between abacavir and ethanol was studied in 24 HIV-1-infected male subjects. Each subject received the following treatments on separate occasions: a single 600 mg dose of abacavir, 0.7 g/kg ethanol (equivalent to 5 alcoholic drinks), and abacavir 600 mg plus 0.7 g/kg ethanol. Coadministration of ethanol and abacavir resulted in a 41% increase in abacavir AUC_∞ and a 26% increase in abacavir t_1/2. In males, abacavir had no effect on the pharmacokinetic properties of ethanol, so no clinically significant interaction is expected in men. This interaction has not been studied in females.

Methadone: In a trial of 11 HIV-1-infected subjects receiving methadone-maintenance therapy (40 mg and 90 mg daily), with 600 mg of abacavir sulfate twice daily (twice the currently recommended dose), oral methadone clearance increased 22% (90% CI: 6% to 42%). This alteration will not result in a methadone dose modification in the majority of patients; however, an increased methadone dose may be required in a small number of patients. The addition of methadone had no clinically significant effect on the pharmacokinetic properties of abacavir.

12.4 Microbiology

Abacavir is a carbocyclic synthetic nucleoside analogue. Abacavir is converted by cellular enzymes to the active metabolite, carbovir triphosphate (CBV-TP), an analogue of deoxyguanosine-5'-triphosphate (dGTP). CBV-TP inhibits the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase (RT) both by competing with the natural substrate dGTP and by its incorporation into viral DNA. The lack of a 3'-OH group in the incorporated nucleotide analogue prevents the formation of the 5' to 3' phosphodiester linkage essential for DNA chain elongation, and therefore, the viral DNA growth is terminated. CBV-TP is a weak inhibitor of cellular DNA polymerases α, β, and γ.

Antiviral Activity:  The antiviral activity of abacavir against HIV-1 was evaluated against a T-cell tropic laboratory strain HIV-1_IIIB in lymphoblastic cell lines, a monocyte/macrophage tropic laboratory strain HIV-1_BaL in primary monocytes/macrophages, and clinical isolates in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The concentration of drug necessary to effect viral replication by 50 percent (EC₅₀) ranged from 3.7 to 5.8 μM (1 μM = 0.28 mcg/mL) and 0.07 to 1 μM against HIV-1_IIIB and HIV-1_BaL, respectively, and was 0.26 ± 0.18 μM against 8 clinical isolates. The EC₅₀ values of abacavir against different HIV-1 clades (A-G) ranged from 0.0015 to 1.05 μM, and against HIV-2 isolates, from 0.024 to 0.49 μM. Abacavir had synergistic activity in cell culture in combination with the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) zidovudine, the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) nevirapine, and the protease inhibitor (PI) amprenavir; and additive activity in combination with the NRTIs didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir, and zalcitabine. Ribavirin (50 μM) had no effect on the anti–HIV-1 activity of abacavir in cell culture.

Resistance:  HIV-1 isolates with reduced susceptibility to abacavir have been selected in cell culture and were also obtained from subjects treated with abacavir. Genotypic analysis of isolates selected in cell culture and recovered from abacavir-treated subjects demonstrated that amino acid substitutions K65R, L74V, Y115F, and M184V/I in RT contributed to abacavir resistance. In a trial of therapy-naive adults receiving abacavir sulfate 600 mg once daily (n = 384) or 300 mg twice daily (n = 386), in a background regimen of lamivudine 300 mg once daily and efavirenz 600 mg once daily (CNA30021), the incidence of virologic failure at 48 weeks was similar between the 2 groups (11% in both arms). Genotypic (n = 38) and phenotypic analyses (n = 35) of virologic failure isolates from this trial showed that the RT substitutions that emerged during abacavir once-daily and twice-daily therapy were K65R, L74V, Y115F, and M184V/I. The substitution M184V/I was the most commonly observed substitution in virologic failure isolates from subjects receiving abacavir once daily (56%, 10/18) and twice daily (40%, 8/20).
 
Thirty-nine percent (7/18) of the isolates from subjects who experienced virologic failure in the abacavir once-daily arm had a greater than 2.5-fold decrease in abacavir susceptibility with a median-fold decrease of 1.3 (range: 0.5 to 11) compared with 29% (5/17) of the failure isolates in the twice-daily arm with a median-fold decrease of 0.92 (range: 0.7 to 13).

Cross-Resistance: Cross-resistance has been observed among NRTIs. Isolates containing abacavir resistance-associated substitutions, namely, K65R, L74V, Y115F, and M184V, exhibited cross-resistance to didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, tenofovir, and zalcitabine in cell culture and in subjects. The K65R substitution can confer resistance to abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, stavudine, tenofovir, and zalcitabine; the L74V substitution can confer resistance to abacavir, didanosine, and zalcitabine; and the M184V substitution can confer resistance to abacavir, didanosine, emtricitabine, lamivudine, and zalcitabine. An increasing number of thymidine analogue mutations (TAMs: M41L, D67N, K70R, L210W, T215Y/F, K219E/R/H/Q/N) is associated with a progressive reduction in abacavir susceptibility.

13 NONCLINICAL TOXICOLOGY

13.1 Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment of Fertility

Carcinogenicity: Abacavir was administered orally at 3 dosage levels to separate groups of mice and rats in 2-year carcinogenicity studies. Results showed an increase in the incidence of malignant and non-malignant tumors. Malignant tumors occurred in the preputial gland of males and the clitoral gland of females of both species, and in the liver of female rats. In addition, non-malignant tumors also occurred in the liver and thyroid gland of female rats. These observations were made at systemic exposures in the range of 6 to 32 times the human exposure at the recommended dose. It is not known how predictive the results of rodent carcinogenicity studies may be for humans.

Mutagenicity: Abacavir induced chromosomal aberrations both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation in an in vitro cytogenetic study in human lymphocytes. Abacavir was mutagenic in the absence of metabolic activation, although it was not mutagenic in the presence of metabolic activation in an L5178Y mouse lymphoma assay. Abacavir was clastogenic in males and not clastogenic in females in an in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay.
 
Abacavir was not mutagenic in bacterial mutagenicity assays in the presence and absence of metabolic activation.

Impairment of Fertility: Abacavir had no adverse effects on the mating performance or fertility of male and female rats at a dose approximately 8 times the human exposure at the recommended dose based on body surface area comparisons.

13.2 Animal Toxicology and/or Pharmacology

Myocardial degeneration was found in mice and rats following administration of abacavir for 2 years. The systemic exposures were equivalent to 7 to 24 times the expected systemic exposure in humans. The clinical relevance of this finding has not been determined.

14 CLINICAL STUDIES

14.1 Adults

Therapy-Naive Adults: CNA30024 was a multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial in which 649 HIV-1-infected, therapy-naive adults were randomized and received either abacavir sulfate (300 mg twice daily), lamivudine (150 mg twice daily), and efavirenz (600 mg once daily); or zidovudine (300 mg twice daily), lamivudine (150 mg twice daily), and efavirenz (600 mg once daily). The duration of double-blind treatment was at least 48 weeks. Trial participants were male (81%), Caucasian (51%), black (21%), and Hispanic (26%). The median age was 35 years; the median pretreatment CD4+ cell count was 264 cells/mm³, and median plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.79 log₁₀ copies/mL. The outcomes of randomized treatment are provided in Table 7.

After 48 weeks of therapy, the median CD4+ cell count increases from baseline were 209 cells/mm³ in the group receiving abacavir sulfate and 155 cells/mm³ in the zidovudine group. Through Week 48, 8 subjects (2%) in the group receiving abacavir sulfate (5 CDC classification C events and 3 deaths) and 5 subjects (2%) on the zidovudine arm (3 CDC classification C events and 2 deaths) experienced clinical disease progression.
 
CNA3005 was a multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial in which 562 HIV-1-infected, therapy-naive adults were randomized to receive either abacavir sulfate (300 mg twice daily) plus COMBIVIR^® (lamivudine 150 mg/zidovudine 300 mg twice daily), or indinavir (800 mg 3 times a day) plus COMBIVIR twice daily. The trial was stratified at randomization by pre-entry plasma HIV-1 RNA 10,000 to 100,000 copies/mL and plasma HIV-1 RNA greater than 100,000 copies/mL. Trial participants were male (87%), Caucasian (73%), black (15%), and Hispanic (9%). At baseline the median age was 36 years; the median baseline CD4+ cell count was 360 cells/mm³, and median baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.8 log₁₀ copies/mL. Proportions of subjects with plasma HIV-1 RNA less than 400 copies/mL (using Roche AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR Test) through 48 weeks of treatment are summarized in Table 8.

Treatment response by plasma HIV-1 RNA strata is shown in Table 9.

In subjects with baseline viral load greater than 100,000 copies/mL, percentages of subjects with HIV-1 RNA levels less than 50 copies/mL were 31% in the group receiving abacavir versus 45% in the group receiving indinavir.
 
Through Week 48, an overall mean increase in CD4+ cell count of about 150 cells/mm³ was observed in both treatment arms. Through Week 48, 9 subjects (3.4%) in the group receiving abacavir sulfate (6 CDC classification C events and 3 deaths) and 3 subjects (1.5%) in the group receiving indinavir (2 CDC classification C events and 1 death) experienced clinical disease progression.
 
CNA30021 was an international, multicenter, double-blind, controlled trial in which 770 HIV-1-infected, therapy-naive adults were randomized and received either abacavir 600 mg once daily or abacavir 300 mg twice daily, both in combination with lamivudine 300 mg once daily and efavirenz 600 mg once daily. The double-blind treatment duration was at least 48 weeks. Trial participants had a mean age of 37 years; were male (81%), Caucasian (54%), black (27%), and American Hispanic (15%). The median baseline CD4+ cell count was 262 cells/mm³ (range 21 to 918 cells/mm³) and the median baseline plasma HIV-1 RNA was 4.89 log₁₀ copies/mL (range: 2.6 to 6.99 log₁₀ copies/mL).
 
The outcomes of randomized treatment are provided in Table 10.

After 48 weeks of therapy, the median CD4+ cell count increases from baseline were 188 cells/mm³ in the group receiving abacavir 600 mg once daily and 200 cells/mm³ in the group receiving abacavir 300 mg twice daily. Through Week 48, 6 subjects (2%) in the group receiving abacavir sulfate 600 mg once daily (4 CDC classification C events and 2 deaths) and 10 subjects (3%) in the group receiving abacavir sulfate 300 mg twice daily (7 CDC classification C events and 3 deaths) experienced clinical disease progression. None of the deaths were attributed to trial medications.

14.2 Pediatric Trials

Therapy-Experienced Pediatric Subjects: CNA3006 was a randomized, double-blind trial comparing abacavir sulfate 8 mg/kg twice daily plus lamivudine 4 mg/kg twice daily plus zidovudine 180 mg/m² twice daily versus lamivudine 4 mg/kg twice daily plus zidovudine 180 mg/m² twice daily. Two hundred and five therapy-experienced pediatric subjects were  enrolled: female (56%), Caucasian (17%), black (50%), Hispanic (30%), median age of 5.4 years, baseline CD4+ cell percent greater than 15% (median = 27%), and median baseline  plasma HIV-1 RNA of 4.6 log₁₀ copies/mL. Eighty percent and 55% of subjects had prior therapy with zidovudine and lamivudine, respectively, most often in combination. The median duration of prior nucleoside analogue therapy was 2 years. At 16 weeks the proportion of  subjects responding based on plasma HIV-1 RNA less than or equal to 400 copies/mL was significantly higher in subjects receiving abacavir sulfate plus lamivudine plus zidovudine compared  with subjects receiving lamivudine plus zidovudine, 13% versus 2%, respectively. Median plasma HIV-1 RNA changes from baseline were -0.53 log₁₀ copies/mL in the group receiving abacavir sulfate plus lamivudine plus zidovudine compared with -0.21 log₁₀ copies/mL in the group receiving lamivudine plus zidovudine. Median CD4+ cell count increases from baseline were 69 cells/mm³ in the group receiving abacavir sulfate plus lamivudine plus zidovudine and 9 cells/mm³ in the group receiving lamivudine plus zidovudine.

15 REFERENCES

• 1.Data Collection on Adverse Events of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) Study Group. Lancet. 2008;371 (9622):1417-1426.

16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING

Abacavir tablets USP, containing abacavir sulfate equivalent to 300 mg abacavir, are yellow colored, biconvex, capsule shaped, coated tablet, debossed with ‘D’ and ‘88’ on either side of the score line on one side and plain with a score line on other side. They are packaged as follows:
Unit dose packages of 30 (3 x 10) NDC 68084-021-21

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F) [see USP Controlled Room Temperature].

17 PATIENT COUNSELING INFORMATION

See FDA-approved patient labeling (Medication Guide)

17.1 Information About Therapy With Abacavir Sulfate

Hypersensitivity Reaction:  Inform patients: 
 

• •that a Medication Guide and Warning Card summarizing the symptoms of the abacavir hypersensitivity reaction and other product information will be dispensed by the pharmacist with each new prescription and refill of abacavir sulfate, and encourage the patient to read the Medication Guide and Warning Card every time to obtain any new information that may be present about abacavir sulfate. (The complete text of the Medication Guide is reprinted at the end of this document.)
• •to carry the Warning Card with them.
• •how to identify a hypersensitivity reaction [see Medication Guide].
• •that if they develop symptoms consistent with a hypersensitivity reaction they should call their doctor right away to determine if they should stop taking abacavir sulfate.
• •that a hypersensitivity reaction can worsen and lead to hospitalization or death if abacavir sulfate is not immediately discontinued.
• •that in one trial, more severe hypersensitivity reactions were seen when abacavir sulfate was dosed 600 mg once daily.
• •to not restart abacavir sulfate or any other abacavir-containing product following a hypersensitivity reaction because more severe symptoms can occur within hours and may include life-threatening hypotension and death.
• •that a hypersensitivity reaction is usually reversible if it is detected promptly and abacavir sulfate is stopped right away.
• •that if they have interrupted abacavir sulfate for reasons other than symptoms of hypersensitivity (for example, those who have an interruption in drug supply), a serious or fatal hypersensitivity reaction may occur with reintroduction of abacavir.
• •to not restart abacavir sulfate or any other abacavir-containing product without medical consultation and that restarting abacavir needs to be undertaken only if medical care can be readily accessed by the patient or others.
• •abacavir sulfate should not be coadministered with EPZICOM^® (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine) tablets or TRIZIVIR^®(abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine) tablets.

Lactic Acidosis/Hepatomegaly:  Inform patients that some HIV medicines, including abacavir sulfate, can cause a rare, but serious condition called lactic acidosis with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) [see Boxed Warning, Warnings and Precautions (5.2)].

Redistribution/Accumulation of Body Fat: Inform patients that redistribution or accumulation of body fat may occur in patients receiving antiretroviral therapy and that the cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time  [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)].

Information About HIV-1 Infection:  Abacavir sulfate is not a cure for HIV-1 infection and patients may continue to experience illnesses associated with HIV-1 infection, including opportunistic infections. Patients should remain under the care of a physician when using abacavir sulfate.
 
Patients should be advised to avoid doing things that can spread HIV-1 infection to others. 

• • Do not share needles or other injection equipment.
• • Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.
• • Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.
• • Do not breastfeed. We do not know if abacavir sulfate can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk.
• •Patients should be informed to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed. 

COMBIVIR, EPIVIR, EPZICOM, and TRIZIVIR are registered trademarks of ViiV Healthcare.
 

PACKAGING INFORMATION

American Health Packaging unit dose blisters (see How Supplied section) contain drug product from Aurobindo Pharma Limited as follows:

(300 mg / 30 UD) NDC 68084-021-21 packaged from NDC 65862-073

Packaged and Distributed by:

American Health Packaging

Columbus, OH 43217

8202121/1212

MEDICATION GUIDE

Abacavir Tablets USP

Read this Medication Guide before you start taking abacavir tablets and each time you get a refill. There may be new information. This information does not take the place of talking to your healthcare provider about your medical condition or your treatment. Be sure to carry your abacavir tablets Warning Card with you at all times.

What is the most important information I should know about abacavir tablets?

1.  Serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction). Abacavir tablets contain abacavir (also contained in EPZICOM^®and TRIZIVIR^®). Patients taking abacavir tablets may have a serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction) that can cause death. Your risk of this allergic reaction is much higher if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701. Your healthcare provider can determine with a blood test if you have this gene variation.

If you get a symptom from 2 or more of the following groups while taking abacavir tablets, call your healthcare provider right away to find out if you should stop taking abacavir tablets. 

A list of these symptoms is on the Warning Card your pharmacist gives you. Carry this Warning Card with you at all times.

If you stop abacavir tablets because of an allergic reaction, never take abacavir sulfate or any other abacavir-containing medicine (EPZICOM and TRIZIVIR) again. If you take abacavir sulfate or any other abacavir-containing medicine again after you have had an allergic reaction, within hours you may get life-threatening symptoms that may include very low blood pressure or death. If you stop abacavir tablets for any other reason, even for a few days, and you are not allergic to abacavir tablets, talk with your healthcare provider before taking them again. Taking abacavir tablets again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction to them before.

If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take abacavir tablets again, start taking them when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one.
 
2. Lactic Acidosis (buildup of acid in the blood). Some human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medicines, including abacavir tablets, can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can cause death and must be treated in the hospital.

Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of lactic acidosis:
 

• •you feel very weak or tired
• •you have unusual (not normal) muscle pain
• •you have trouble breathing
• •you have stomach pain with nausea and vomiting
• •you feel cold, especially in your arms and legs
• •you feel dizzy or light-headed
• •you have a fast or irregular heartbeat

3. Serious liver problems. Some people who have taken medicines like abacavir tablets have developed serious liver problems called hepatotoxicity, with liver enlargement (hepatomegaly) and fat in the liver (steatosis). Hepatomegaly with steatosis is a serious medical emergency that can cause death.
 
Call your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: 

• •your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice)
• •your urine turns dark
• •your bowel movements (stools) turn light in color
• •you don’t feel like eating food for several days or longer
• •you feel sick to your stomach (nausea)
• •you have lower stomach area (abdominal) pain

You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking nucleoside analogue medicines for a long time.

What are abacavir tablets?
 
Abacavir tablets are a prescription medicine used to treat HIV infection. Abacavir tablets are a medicine called a nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Abacavir tablets are always used with other anti-HIV medicines. When used in combination with these other medicines, abacavir tablets help lower the amount of HIV in your blood.

• • Abacavir tablets do not cure HIV infection or AIDS.
• •It is not known if abacavir tablets will help you live longer or have fewer of the medical problems that people get with HIV or AIDS.
• •It is very important that you see your doctor regularly while you are taking abacavir tablets.

Who should not take abacavir tablets?

Do not take abacavir tablets if you: 

• • are allergic to abacavir or any of the ingredients in abacavir tablets. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in abacavir tablets.
• • have certain liver problems.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking abacavir tablets?

Before you take abacavir tablets, tell your healthcare provider if you:

• • have been tested and know whether or not you have a particular gene variation called HLA-B*5701.
• • have hepatitis B virus infection or have other liver problems.
• • have heart problems, smoke, or have diseases that increase your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes.
• • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if abacavir tablets will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
• • Pregnancy Registry. If you take abacavir tablets while you are pregnant, talk to your healthcare provider about how you can take part in the Pregnancy Registry for abacavir tablets. The purpose of the pregnancy registry is to collect information about the health of you and your baby.
• • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. We do not know if abacavir sulfate can be passed to your baby in your breast milk and whether it could harm your baby. Also, mothers with HIV-1 should not breastfeed because HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in the breast milk.
• • Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: 

• •alcohol
• •methadone
• •TRIZIVIR (abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine)
• •EPZICOM (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine)

Ask your healthcare provider if you are not sure if you take one of the medicines listed above.

Abacavir tablets may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how abacavir tablets work.
 
Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of your medicines with you to show to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

How should I take abacavir tablets? 

• • Take abacavir tablets exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take them.
• • Abacavir tablets are taken by mouth as a tablet or a strawberry- and banana-flavored liquid.
• •Abacavir tablets may be taken with or without food.
• •Do not skip doses.
• •Children aged 3 months and older can also take abacavir tablets. The child’s healthcare provider will decide the right dose and whether the child should take the tablet or liquid, based on the child’s weight. The dose should not be more than the recommended adult dose.
• • Do not let your abacavir tablets run out.

If you stop your anti-HIV medicines, even for a short time, the amount of virus in your blood may increase and the virus may become harder to treat. If you take too much abacavir sulfate, call your healthcare provider or poison control center or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

What are the possible side effects of abacavir tablets? 

• • Abacavir tablets can cause serious side effects including allergic reactions, lactic acidosis, and liver problems. See “What is the most important information I should know about abacavir tablets?”
• • Changes in immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome). Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider if you start having new or worse symptoms of infection after you start taking abacavir tablets.
• • Changes in body fat (fat redistribution). Changes in body fat (lipoatrophy or lipodystrophy) can happen in some people taking antiretroviral medicines including abacavir tablets.

These changes may include: 

• •more fat in or around your trunk, upper back and neck (buffalo hump), breast, or chest
• •loss of fat in your legs, arms, or face
• • Heart attack (myocardial infarction). Some HIV medicines including abacavir tablets may increase your risk of heart attack.

The most common side effects of abacavir tablets in adults include: 

• •bad dreams or sleep problems
• •nausea
• •headache
• •tiredness
• •vomiting

The most common side effects of abacavir tablets in children include: 

• •fever and chills
• •nausea
• •vomiting
• •rash
• •ear, nose, or throat infections

Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.
 
These are not all the possible side effects of abacavir tablets. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist.
 
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

How should I store abacavir tablets? 

• •Store abacavir tablets at room temperature, between 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F).
• •Do not freeze abacavir tablets.
• • Keep abacavir tablets and all medicines out of the reach of children.

General information for safe and effective use of abacavir tablets

Avoid doing things that can spread HIV infection to others. 

• • Do not share needles or other injection equipment.
• • Do not share personal items that can have blood or body fluids on them, like toothbrushes and razor blades.
• • Do not have any kind of sex without protection. Always practice safe sex by using a latex or polyurethane condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, vaginal secretions, or blood.

Medicines are sometimes prescribed for purposes other than those listed in a Medication Guide. Do not use abacavir tablets for a condition for which it was not prescribed. Do not give abacavir tablets to other people, even if they have the same symptoms that you have. They may harm them.
 
This Medication Guide summarizes the most important information about abacavir tablets. If you would like more information, talk with your healthcare provider. You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for the information that is written for healthcare professionals.
 
For more information call Aurobindo Pharma USA 1-866-850-2876.

What are the ingredients in abacavir tablets?
 
Active ingredient: abacavir sulfate
 
Inactive ingredients: colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, and sodium starch glycolate. The tablets are coated with a film that is made of hypromellose, iron oxide yellow, polysorbate 80, titanium dioxide, and triacetin.
 
This Medication Guide has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
 
EPZICOM and TRIZIVIR are registered trademarks of ViiV Healthcare.

Packaged and Distributed by:

American Health Packaging

Columbus, OH 43217

8202121/1212

PACKAGE LABEL-PRINCIPAL DISPLAY PANEL

NDC 68084-021-21
Abacavir Tablets USP
300 mg.
Rx only