Ziagen (abacavir) Coupons, Discounts & Cost
Ziagen (abacavir) is an antiviral pharmaceutical agent used to treat HIV infection. One way to save money on the Ziagen retail cost regardless of income and insurance status is to use Ziagen coupons or discount cards from RXCoupons. Use this Abacavir coupon at this online pharmacy and receive up to 75% off the sale price.
What should patients know about Ziagen?
Ziagen (abacavir) is an antiviral pharmaceutical agent used to treat HIV infection in adult patients and children (as part of combination therapy). Abacavir penetrates into the cerebrospinal fluid and reduces HIV-1 RNA levels. It can prevent the development of neurological complications of HIV infection within the central nervous system (CNS).
Ziagen contraindications
Patients should not take Ziagen in case of individual sensitivity to abacavir or any other component of this drug, hepatic insufficiency of moderate and severe degree.
Ziagen is not used in children up to 3 months and those with a body weight of less than 14 kg.
Adequate and well-controlled studies involving pregnant women are not available. If you need to use Ziagen during pregnancy, then you should think of expected benefits and the potential risk to the fetus. In addition, there are extremely rare reports of epileptic seizures and other neurological disorders in newborns. Keep in mind that specialists do not recommend breastfeeding to avoid HIV transmission to the child.
How to take Ziagen
The drug is taken regardless of food intake.
Ziagen should be prescribed by a doctor with experience in the treatment of HIV infection. It is possible to divide and grind the tablets with a small amount of liquid.
Adults, children and adolescents with a body weight of at least 30 kg: the recommended dose of Ziagen is 600 mg per day. The drug is used at a dose of 300 mg (1 tablet) 2 times a day or 600 mg (2 tablets) once a day.
Children aged 3 months and older with a body weight of 14 to 30 kg: the recommended dose of Ziagen is 1/2 tablet 2 times a day or 1 tablet 1 time per day.
Patients with impaired renal function should not change the dose.
The recommended dose of Ziagen for patients with mild liver function disorders is 200 mg 2 times a day. Abacavir is contraindicated in patients with impaired liver function of medium and severe degree.
Ziagen side effects
According to clinical studies, approximately 5% of patients taking Ziagen had hypersensitivity to abacavir (fever, rash). Symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions may appear at any time, but most often they occur within the first 6 weeks of treatment.
Gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, ulceration of the oral mucosa.
Respiratory system: shortness of breath, cough, sore throat, respiratory failure.
CNS: headache, paresthesia.
Hematopoietic and lymphatic system: lymphocytopenia.
Musculoskeletal system: myalgia, arthralgia.
Urinary system: renal failure.
Other reactions: fever, fatigue, arterial hypotension, conjunctivitis, anaphylactic reactions.
The clinical manifestations of hypersensitivity reactions become more pronounced if you continue to take Ziagen.
Precautionary measures
Rifampicin, phenobarbital and phenytoin may slightly reduce the concentration of abacavir.
Ethanol slows the metabolism of abacavir.
Retinoid medications can interact with abacavir.
Approximately 5% of patients taking abacavir suffer from hypersensitivity reactions. These reactions are characterized by symptoms such as fever, rash, fatigue, malaise, gastrointestinal disturbances (including vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain), disorders of the respiratory system (including dyspnea, sore throat, cough, lung damage). Patients with hypersensitivity reactions should be closely monitored, especially during the first 2 months of therapy with Ziagen. The drug should be completely discontinued if hypersensitivity cannot be excluded, even if other diagnoses (respiratory diseases, gastroenteritis, reactions to other medications) are possible. Special care must be taken for those patients who have simultaneously started taking Ziagen and other medications that cause skin reactions.
Patients with hypersensitivity to abacavir should not use other drugs containing abacavir.
There have been reports of lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly. In most cases, these complications occur in women. Main symptoms include weakness, lack of appetite, rapid weight loss, gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain), respiratory system disorders (dyspnea).