How to take EPZICOM

A simple, effective treatment

One of the main benefits of EPZICOM is that it helps you simplify your treatment plan. And, the more simple your plan, the more likely you are to follow it correctly. Taking one dose of EPZICOM is just like taking two 300-mg tablets of abacavir sulfate and two 150-mg tablets of lamivudine – that's like having four pills in one daily tablet. EPZICOM should be taken as part of your HIV treatment regimen.


Stay in control and on schedule

Even when you feel great, it's important to take all your medications at the same time every day. By staying on top of your medication schedule, you'll get the most out of your treatment plan and minimize the chance of developing resistance.

  • Take EPZICOM by mouth exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes it. The usual dose is one tablet once a day. Don't be tempted to skip doses
  • You can take EPZICOM with or without food
  • If you miss a dose of EPZICOM, take the missed dose right away, then take the next dose at the usual time
  • Do not let your EPZICOM run out
  • Starting EPZICOM again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction to it before. If you run out of EPZICOM, even for a few days, you must ask your healthcare provider if you can start EPZICOM again. If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take EPZICOM again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one
  • If you stop your anti-HIV drugs, 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 right away


Next: Is EPZICOM an option for you?

Explore EPZICOM.com

Switching to EPZICOM, Paying for medicine, Screening test, Annual HIV events, You and your doctor, HIV facts and myths, Viral load, T-cell count, drug resistance

 

See if EPZICOM is an option for you

Find out about a screening test that your doctor can give you.

EPZICOM: Screening Test

 

Help your doctor help you

If you or someone you're caring for has HIV, our doctor discussion guide can help.

HIV Questions for Doctor

By prescription only.


Important Safety Information
EPZICOM contains abacavir, which is also contained in ZIAGEN® (abacavir sulfate) and TRIZIVIR® (abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine). Patients taking EPZICOM may have a serious allergic reaction (hypersensitivity reaction) that can cause death. Your risk of this allergic reaction is much higher if you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701 than if you do not. Your doctor can determine with a blood test if you have this gene variation. If you get a symptom from 2 or more of the following groups while taking EPZICOM, call your doctor right away to determine if you should stop taking this medicine.

  1. Fever
  2. Rash
  3. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal (stomach area) pain
  4. Generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, or achiness
  5. Shortness of breath, cough, or sore throat
Indication

  • EPZICOM, in combination with other antiretroviral agents, is indicated for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults.
  • EPZICOM is one of 3 medicines containing abacavir. Before starting EPZICOM, your healthcare provider will review your medical history in order to avoid the use of abacavir if you have experienced an allergic reaction to abacavir in the past.
  • In one study, more patients had a severe hypersensitivity reaction in the abacavir once-daily group than in the abacavir twice-daily group.
  • EPZICOM should not be used as part of a triple-nucleoside regimen.
  • EPZICOM does not cure HIV infection/AIDS or prevent passing HIV to others.

 

Carefully read the Warning Card that your pharmacist gives you and carry it with you at all times.

If you stop EPZICOM because of an allergic reaction, NEVER take EPZICOM (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine) or any other abacavir-containing medicine (ZIAGEN and TRIZIVIR) again. If you take EPZICOM or any other abacavir-containing medicine again after you have had an allergic reaction, WITHIN HOURS you may get life-threatening symptoms that may include very low blood pressure or death.

If you stop EPZICOM for any other reason, even for a few days, and you are not allergic to EPZICOM, talk with your healthcare provider before taking it again. Taking EPZICOM again can cause a serious allergic or life-threatening reaction, even if you never had an allergic reaction before. If your healthcare provider tells you that you can take EPZICOM again, start taking it when you are around medical help or people who can call a healthcare provider if you need one.

A buildup of lactic acid in the blood and an enlarged liver, including fatal cases, have been reported.

Do not take EPZICOM if your liver does not function normally.

Some patients infected with both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HIV have worsening of hepatitis after stopping lamivudine (a component of EPZICOM). Discuss any change in treatment with your healthcare provider. If you have both HBV and HIV and stop treatment with EPZICOM, you should be closely monitored by your healthcare provider for at least several months.

Worsening of liver disease (sometimes resulting in death) has occurred in patients infected with both HIV and hepatitis C virus who are taking anti-HIV medicines and are also being treated for hepatitis C with interferon with or without ribavirin. If you are taking EPZICOM as well as interferon with or without ribavirin and you experience side effects, be sure to tell your healthcare provider.

When you start taking HIV medicines, your immune system may get stronger and could begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body, such as pneumonia, herpes virus, or tuberculosis. If you have new symptoms after starting your HIV medicines, be sure to tell your healthcare provider.

Changes in body fat may occur in some patients taking antiretroviral therapy. These changes may include an increased amount of fat in the upper back and neck ("buffalo hump"), breast, and around the trunk. Loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face may also occur. The cause and long-term health effects of these conditions are not known at this time.

Some HIV medicines, including those containing abacavir (ZIAGEN, EPZICOM, and TRIZIVIR), may increase your risk of heart attack. If you have heart problems, smoke, or suffer from diseases that increase your risk of heart disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes, tell your healthcare provider.

The most common side effects seen with the drugs in EPZICOM dosed once-daily were allergic reaction, trouble sleeping, depression, headache, tiredness, dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, rash, fever, stomach pain, abnormal dreams, and anxiety. Most of these side effects did not cause people to stop taking EPZICOM.

EPZICOM is a once-a-day HIV medication that combines abacavir sulfate and lamivudine in a single tablet. As backbone therapy for your HIV treatment plan, EPZICOM can help you lower your HIV viral load and raise your CD4 cell count. Talk to your doctor to find out if switching to EPZICOM from other HIV treatments is right for you.