Currently taking EPZICOM?
Find out why it's so important to take your EPZICOM at the same time every day.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNINGS and Medication Guide
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.
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Living with HIV
Take care of your body, so it can take care of you
A healthy HIV-positive lifestyle involves more than just taking medication. No matter how well your treatment plan is going, maintaining a healthy diet and staying active are always important. And even if you're already taking good care of yourself, you can always learn new ways to live a healthier life. Remember – with a strong mind, body, and spirit, you can fight HIV with all you've got.
Nutrition and exercise
A healthy diet helps the fight
We all know that healthy eating is good for our bodies, but when you are living with HIV, it's even more important. Eating a balanced, nutritious diet gives your body the strength it needs to fight HIV. Even on days when you don't feel hungry or eating feels like a lot of effort, it's important to do your best to follow these tips:
- Eat foods high in carbohydrates with every meal – Carbohydrates give you energy. Foods that are high in carbohydrates include flour, rice, cornmeal, and potatoes
- Eat protein-rich foods every day – These help to build muscles and keep you strong. Protein-rich foods include fish, meat, eggs, milk, sour cream, yogurt, and cheese. If you are a vegetarian, talk to your healthcare provider about ways you can get enough protein in your diet
- Eat fruits and vegetables every day – These help you fight infection and provide you with vitamins. Yellow, dark red, green, and orange fruits and vegetables are full of vitamin A. Cabbage, tomatoes, oranges, and pineapples are high in vitamin C. It's also good to eat green, leafy vegetables (such as spinach), green peppers, carrots, mangoes, and papaya
- Eat some fat and oils – Having some fat in your diet gives you extra energy. It can also help you keep weight on and gain back any weight you may have lost. Healthy fats are found in fish, nuts, seeds, canola oil, and olive oil
- Drink plenty of water – You must keep fluids in your body. This is even more important if you are vomiting, have diarrhea, or have a fever. If you have any of these problems for three days or longer, talk with your healthcare provider
When you keep moving, you stay ahead
Exercise and physical activity are very important for your health, but that doesn't mean you always have to go to the gym. Walking, working in the yard, doing housework, or riding a bike are all great ways to stay active when living with HIV.
Regular exercise can help:
- Relieve stress
- Increase your appetite
- Strengthen and build muscles. Your muscles store energy and protein that your body can use when fighting infection
- Improve your sleep
- Your self-esteem
Try to choose activities you enjoy doing, like dancing, walking, swimming, or jogging. If you can fit physical activity into each day, it will strengthen your mood as well as your health.
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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.
- Fever
- Rash
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal (stomach area) pain
- Generally ill feeling, extreme tiredness, or achiness
- 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.