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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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Patient savings
Getting the help you need
We have developed a number of patient assistance programs and discount cards for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) medications.
Savings Card: Save money on EPZICOM
ViiV Healthcare is committed to helping people in need save money on their medicines. The Patient Savings Card is part of that commitment. With the Patient Savings Card, eligible patients can receive up to $100 off your out-of-pocket costs for each prescription of EPZICOM, if you qualify. If you are eligible, take the card to your pharmacist and receive $100 off each prescription of EPZICOM for up to two years.
These programs have eligibility requirements and restrictions. Please see complete terms and conditions at www.mysupportcard.com
There are two ways to get a card:
- from your doctor
- from the Web site
Don't have your Savings Card yet?
Visit My Support Card to confirm your eligibility and print your card. For more information about other ways ViiV Healthcare is helping people get the medicines they need, visit GSKforYou.com or call the ViiV Healthcare response center at 1-877-844-8872.
Getting the help you need
To help you find the savings you want on the ViiV Healthcare medication(s) you need, we have developed a number of patient assistance programs and discount cards.
Our patient assistance programs provide prescription medicines to eligible low-income, uninsured patients for free or at very low cost. ViiV Healthcare operates several programs, including:
ViiV Healthcare's Patient Assistance Program is managed by GlaxoSmithKline. GSK for You makes it easier for you to find information about all the different money-saving programs out there by putting it all on one simple Web site. To learn more about GSK for You and other ways to save on your medicines, visit the GSK for You site or call us toll-free Monday through Friday at 1-877-844-8872 between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
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
Currently taking EPZICOM?
Find out why it's so important to take your EPZICOM at the same time every day.
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.