Trizivir

Please read this factsheet together with the patient information leaflet carefully before taking your medicine. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Trizivir is a preparation that contains zidovudine, lamivudine and abacavir in one tablet. Zidovudine, lamivudine and abacavir all belong to a class of drugs called nucleoside analogues or nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Nucleoside analogues are used for the treatment of HIV infection, in combination with other anti-HIV drugs Please speak to your clinic doctor or pharmacist if you would like more information about how these drugs work.

Before taking Trizivir:
Tell your doctor about:

* All other drugs that you are taking, including any that you buy over the counter in a community
pharmacy and herbal medicines;
* Any previous reaction to abacavir;
* Any previous allergy to any other medicines;
* If you have ever had any liver disease;
* If you have ever had any kidney disease;
* If you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant;

Taking your Trizivir

* Trizivir is available as a blue/green tablet, containing 300mg of zidovudine, 150mg of lamivudine and 300mg of abacavir;
* The usual dose is one tablet twice each day;
* If you need to take a lower dose of zidovudine or lamivudine e.g. if you have reduced kidney function, Trizivir is not suitable for you. Your doctor will prescribe each drug separately;
* The doses should be divided equally throughout the day: try to take the doses as close as possible to twelve hours apart, and at the same times each day;
* There is no effect of food upon absorption; therefore you can take the tablets before, with or after food. Taking doses after food may help prevent nausea - this is usually due to zidovudine and may occur when you first start taking Trizivir;
* Trizivir works best if there is a constant amount in your bloodstream. It is therefore very important to take the tablets regularly. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Do not run out of Trizivir. If you are going on holiday and need additional supplies - tell your doctor.
When receiving your supply from pharmacy, ensure that you have an adequate supply to last until your next appointment;

Some of these side effects may occur when you first start taking Trizivir and frequently disappear after 4 or 5 weeks of treatment. If you experience any of these side effects or any other symptoms after you start

Trizivir,
tell your doctor who will advise you what to do. If you decide to stop taking Trizivir, it is important that you tell your doctor so that he or she can discuss other treatment options with you.

In the experience to date with abacavir, approximately 5% of patients have developed an allergic reaction.

This usually happens within the first six weeks of treatment, although these reactions may occur at any time during therapy. The HLA B5701 genetic test identifies patients most at risk for abacavir-related hypersensitivity reactions.

YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY for advice if:
1. You get a skin rash OR
2. You get one or more symptoms from at least two of the following groups:

* fever;
* shortness of breath, sore throat or cough;
* nausea or vomiting or diarrhoea or abdominal pain;
* severe tiredness or achiness or general ill feeling;

You should NOT stop taking abacavir without first speaking to your doctor. If you do stop abacavir due to this reaction, you must never take abacavir again. There have been reports of more serious reactions in people who have stopped abacavir and then restarted after the symptoms disappeared.

During working hours contact your doctor or the Kobler Pharmacy on 020 87465604 or after hours, Thomas Macaulay ward, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital on 020 8746 8540.

Lactic acidosis has been reported with the use of nucleoside analogues. Your doctor will be monitoring your lactate levels, but if you experience the following symptoms, inform your doctor: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, rapid, deep breathing or muscle weakness.

Admission to hospital
If you are admitted to hospital please bring all your medicines with you. This is especially important for anti-HIV medication as it has to be taken regularly. Thomas Macaulay Ward of the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital now operates a self medication programme. Some patients are able to self administer their own medicines to enable them to stick to the routine the have been used to at home.

Storing your Trizivir
Trizivir tablets should be stored at room temperature.