Epzicom is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV infection. Epzicom contains 2 medicines: abacavir (Ziagen) and lamivudine or 3TC (Epivir). Both of these medicines are called nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). When used together, they help lower the amount of HIV in your blood. Epzicom does not cure HIV infection or AIDS. It is not known if Epzicom 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 healthcare provider regularly while you are taking Epzicom. It is not known if Epzicom is safe or effective in children under the age of 18. Take Epzicom exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Epzicom may be taken with or without food. Do not skip doses. Do not let your Epzicom 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 Epzicom, call your healthcare provider or poison control center room right away.
Manufacturer Information
Canadian Pharmacy King currently offers the brand Epzicom from Canada also called Kivexa manufactured by ViiV Healthcare. Abacavir/Lamivudine also called Abamune-L comes from India manufactured by Cipla. The brand and generic Epzicom tablet is available in the strength of 600 mg/300 mg.
The common side effects of Epzicom may include trouble sleeping, depression, headache, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, rash, fever. Call your doctor right away if you have any of the following side effects:
• allergic reactions If you stop Epzicom because of an allergic reaction, never take Epzicom (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine) or any other abacavir-containing medicine again;
• Changes in immune system;
• Changes in body fat (fat redistribution);
• Heart attack (myocardial infarction);
• lactic acidosis. Symptoms include feeling weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea and vomiting, feeling cold, feeling dizzy, have a fast or irregular heartbeat;
• liver problems. Symptoms include jaundice, your bowel movements (stools) turn light in color, loss of appetite, nausea, lower stomach area (abdominal) pain
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Please call your doctor if you have any further concerns or questions.
Do not take Epzicom if you: are allergic to abacavir or any of the ingredients in Epzicom, have certain liver problems. Before you take Epzicom 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 kidney 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, are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. Lamivudine is excreted in human breast milk. 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 non prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take: alcohol, medicines used to treat hepatitis viruses such as interferon or ribavirin, methadone, Atripla, Combivir, Complera, Emtriva, Epivir, Trizivir Truvada, Ziagen.
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