Quick facts
Is EPZICOM an option for you? A one-time blood test can help you find out.
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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HIV myths vs. facts
There's no substitute for knowledge
The more facts you know about HIV, the better. But just because you heard something doesn't always mean it's true. Separating HIV fact from fiction is important and will help you fight HIV more effectively. The following questions and answers will clear up some common myths about HIV. Select each of the questions below to get the facts you need about HIV.
Spreading HIV
Can HIV be passed from one person to another through saliva?
NO.
People with HIV do not have enough virus in their saliva (mouth fluid) to pass the infection to others. If you kiss someone who has HIV or drink from his or her glass, you will not be infected.
Can HIV pass through a latex condom?
NO.
It is not true that HIV is so small it can get through a latex condom. When you use a condom the right way, it blocks sperm and HIV from getting inside someone else. See how to use a condom the right way.
Web links are external to ViiV Healthcare. ViiV Healthcare does not possess editorial control over the content of the information provided on these sites and therefore does not warrant their accuracy and completeness.
If I'm HIV positive, do I need to use a condom for oral sex?
YES.
HIV can be passed during oral sex. To be safe, you should wear a condom for all types of sex—oral, anal, or vaginal.
Curing and Avoiding HIV
Are homosexuals (gays) the only people who get HIV?
NO.
HIV can infect all people—gay or straight, men or women, rich or poor. People of every race and religion can get HIV. You cannot tell by looking at someone if he or she has HIV.
HIV Treatment
I have just tested positive for HIV. Am I going to die soon from AIDS?
NO.
With treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy lives.
Are AIDS and HIV the same thing?
NO.
HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. A person is said to have AIDS when their T-cell count is below 200 or they have one or more AIDS-related illnesses. But people can be HIV-positive (HIV+) and not develop AIDS. An HIV treatment plan can raise your T-cell count, keep your viral load low, and prevent you from getting AIDS or AIDS-related illnesses. Learn more about treating HIV.
Is it better to wait until I get sick to start taking HIV medicine?
NO.
HIV slowly destroys your immune system. If you wait until you get sick, your immune system may not be able to recover. Most healthcare providers think you should start HIV medicine long before you feel sick. Find out about the different types of HIV medicines.
Will I have to take a lot of pills each day and worry about when and what I eat?
MAYBE.
This depends on the medicines you take. With some new combinations, you may need to take only one or two pills each day. There may also be rules about food or other medicines you may be taking. You should talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist about any dosing requirements with your HIV treatment regimen.
If the medicines in my first combination stop working, does that mean I won't have other medication choices to treat my HIV?
NO.
As long as you take your medicines the right way every day, your first combination of medicines will likely work well to control the virus. But if that combination stops working over time, there are other choices.
Do all HIV medicines make you feel sick and worse than you felt before you started?
NO.
Many people start feeling better when they begin HIV medicines. Some people do not feel many medicine side effects; other people do. Many common side effects go away after a few weeks. There are a number of things you can do to deal with side effects. Get tips for coping now. If side effects are really bad, talk with your healthcare provider. He or she can help.
Does everyone taking HIV medicines get body changes, such as a shrunken face or a "buffalo hump" on the back of their neck?
NO.
Most people do not have these kinds of body changes. When face, arms, and legs shrink, it is called wasting. Wasting can also happen to people with HIV who are not taking medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider if you are worried about these problems.
Can natural, herbal remedies alone control HIV and help your immune system?
NO.
To control the virus, you must take your HIV medicines. But there are herbs and vitamins you can take along with your HIV medicine. Just be sure to let your healthcare provider know which ones you want to take. There are some that can affect how your HIV medicines work.
If I don't have a lot of money or health insurance, are there programs that could help me, if I am eligible, get the HIV medicines I need?
YES.
The cost of treating HIV medication can be high, but you can get help. From insurance programs to public assistance, there are ways to get help paying for your medicines. Learn how you can get assistance in paying for your HIV medicines.
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
Help your doctor help you
Find out what questions to ask if you're not currently on treatment.
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.
- 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.