Guides

Trizivir (AZT + 3TC + abacavir)

26 August 2012. Related: ARVs, Fixed dose combinations, Nukes.

trizivir
TRIZ-iv-veer

  • Trizivir is the tradename for a fixed dose combination of 3TC, abacavir and AZT.
  • Standard adult dose: one tablet, twice-daily.
  • Trizivir can be taken with or without food.
  • Side effects: nausea, vomiting, fatigue, anaemia (low red blood cells), fat loss, muscle pain and weakness. Darkening of skin and nails in some people. Rarely, hair loss. Hypersensitivity reaction from abacavir. A genetic test, called HLA B*5701, is now used in the UK that reduces this risk. A negative result does not guarantee that you will not get this reaction, but makes it much less likely. See individual drugs for more information.
  • Other notes: not recommended in people with a high risk of heart disease because some studies have shown that it increased this risk. It is also not recommended when viral load is above 100,000 copies/mL.
  • Do not take with FTC.
  • Even though this tablet contains three drugs, it is only recommended in specific circumstances. This is sometime to avoid drug interactions that other HIV meds have with other medications.

Abacavir hypersensitivty reaction

  • Symptoms of the reaction include fever, rash, headache, sore throat, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, tiredness, nausea, vomiting, flu-like aches etc that get progressively worse each day.
  • Anyone who gets these symptoms must seek urgent medical advice with a view to stopping the abacavir.
  • Once stopped, abacavir must not be used by that person again, as a worse reaction can return that is potentially fatal.

Further information

The European patient leaflet and detailed Product Information for Trizivir are available in PDF format from this link at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) website.

The Patient Information is a simplified summary: what the drug is, why it is used, results from studies and cautions including side effects.

The Product Information is a detailed technical summary that you can access as a PDF file by clicking the ‘Product Information’ tab. It describes more precisely how the drug works and how it is processed by your body. This includes, for example, reported food interaction studies in terms of calories or fat content. It includes more details of the study results and a full list of side effects and drug interactions.