What Is Kivexa?
Kivexa is a pill that contains two drugs
used to fight HIV: Abacavir
(Ziagen) and Epivir (3TC). Kivexa is
manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
Who Should Take Kivexa?
Kivexa is an antiviral drug for people with
HIV infection.
Kivexa has not been carefully studied in
children. Kivexa should not be used
by people under 13 years old or people with a damaged liver.
Kivexa provides two drugs in one pill. It can
be more convenient to use Kivexa than some other combinations of drugs. This
could mean fewer missed doses and better control of HIV.
Although lamivudine can be used to treat
hepatitis B, a lower dose is used than for HIV. People with HIV infection
should use the higher (HIV) dose. Some people had a flare-up of hepatitis B
after stopping lamivudine treatment. People with hepatitis B should not stop
taking lamivudine without careful monitoring by their doctor.
What About Drug
Resistance?
Resistance can develop quickly. It is very
important to take antiviral medications according to instructions, on
schedule, and not to skip or reduce doses.
How Is Kivexa Taken?
The normal adult dose is one tablet, once a
day. Each tablet includes 600 milligrams (mg) of abacavir (Ziagen) and 300
mg of lamivudine (Epivir, 3TC).
Kivexa can be taken with food, or between
meals.
The dosage of 3TC should be reduced for
people who weigh less than 50 kilograms (110 pounds). People who weigh less
than 50 kg should normally not take Kivexa.
What Are the Side Effects?
When you start any antiviral treatment, you
may have temporary side effects such as headaches, high blood pressure, or a
general sense of feeling ill. These side effects usually get better or
disappear over time.
The most common side effects of Kivexa are
the same as with abacavir (ziagen) and Epivir (3TC).
The most serious side effect of abacavir is a
hypersensitivity reaction. About 8% of people who take abacavir have this
reaction, but they have to stop taking abacavir and cannot take it again. If
they do, they will have a serious and possibly fatal reaction.
The reaction usually starts within two weeks
of starting abacavir. Patients had at least two of the following symptoms:
fever, rash, headache, feeling bad, no energy, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea,
or stomach pain, cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat. If you develop
any of these symptoms while taking Kivexa, call your doctor immediately.
How Does Kivexa React
With Other Drugs?
Kivexa should not be taken with with ddC
(zalcitabine, Hivid®) or with d4T (stavudine, Zerit®). However, since
these are other nucleoside analogue drugs, there is very little chance that
a doctor would prescribe them along with Kivexa.
Blood levels of 3TC may be increased by
bactrim or septra.
