Trizivir

What is it?

An anti-retrovircrl, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor available as bluish-green, capsule- shaped tablets containing 300mg of abacavir, 150mg of lamivudine, 300mg of zidovudine, all marked GXLLl.

Medical Uses

In combination with other drugs for treatment of HIV.

Dosage

Adults, 1 tablet twice each day - may be taken with or without food. Before starting with Trizivir, patient should first receive each of the 3 components separately for 6 to 8 weeks.

Special Care

Liver or kidney disorders - monitor functions before and during treatment. Drug should be immediately stopped if liver enzymes rapidly rise; special care in obese women, patients with enlarged liver, hepatitis or at risk of liver disease. If drug is stopped in patients with hepatitis B, monitoring of liver function and signs of HBV viral replication is needed. All patients must be closely monitored. Patients must report any signs of hypersensitivity reactions including brathlessness and shortness of breath, cough, pharyngitis, rash, sore throat, fever, gastrointestinal upset, muscle and joint pains, headache, lethargy. If hypersensitivity is detected, drug should be stopped and treatment should not be resumed. In the event of stopping and restarting treatment for other reasons, medical assistance should be on hand. If serious anaemia or bone marrow suppression arises, Trizivir dose may need to be reduced.

Avoid Use

Children, end-stage kidney disease, moderate to severely impaired liver function.

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Vinblastine, lorazepam, ganciclovir, cimetidine, atovaquone, amphotericin, clofibrate, isoprinosone, doxorubicin, opiods, rifampicin, tribavirin, fosccrnet, stavudine, ketoprofen, trimethroprim, naproxen, pentamidine, indomethacin, phenytoin, oxazepam, cotrimoxazole, interferon, probenecid, retinoids, vincristine, pyrimethamine, aspirin, dapsone, flucytosine.

Known Side Effects

Changes in blood cell levels (neutropenia, pancytopenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia), anaemia, gastrointestinal upset, headaches, muscle and joint pains, weakness, malaise, tiredness, fever, fits, insomnia, low blood pressure, kidney failure, lactic acidosis, anorexia, cerebral effects, hepatitis, hepatic steatosis, peripheral nerve damage, short-lived rise in liver function tests, numbness/ tingling 'pins and needles' sensation. Any adverse side effects should be reported to the Committee on the Safety of medicines (CSM).