Kivexa belongs to a group of antiretroviral medicines called nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), and is used in combination with other antiretrovirals to treat Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection (a retrovirus). Infection with HIV damages the immune system and can lead to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other related illnesses. Kivexa does not cure HIV, but helps to prevent further damage to the immune system by slowing down production of new viruses. Kivexa also increases the CD4 cell count in your blood. CD4 cells are a type of white blood cells that are important in helping your body fight infection. Take Kivexa exactly as your doctor has advised you, and try not to miss any doses. Your doctor will determine if the child is able to swallow the tablet. Swallow the tablet whole with water. Kivexa can be taken with or without food. Kivexa is a set (fixed) dose combination of abacavir sulfate and lamivudine, and therefore cannot be dose reduced. Therefore, Kivexa cannot be used if you have kidney or liver problems or if you weigh less than 25 kg because you cannot change the dose. If you are unsure about how to take it, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Manufacturer Information

The common side effects of Kivexa may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upper abdominal pain, headache, fever, lack of energy, fatigue, trouble sleeping, depression, loss of appetite, hair loss, joint and muscle pain, abacavir hypersensitivity (serious allergic reaction) and skin rash (without any other illness).

A hypersensitivity reaction (serious allergic reaction) has been reported in patients who have been treated with abacavir with 2 or more of the following symptoms:

• abdominal pain;
• achiness;
• diarrhea;
• fever;
• nausea;
• shortness of breath;
• severe tiredness;
• skin rash;
• sore throat

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Please call your doctor if you have any further concerns or questions.

Kivexa should not be taken if you previously had an allergic reaction (hypersensitivity) to the active ingredients abacavir and lamivudine or any of the other ingredients found in Kivexa, if you have the HLA-B* 5701 gene variation or liver disease. If you stop Kivexa because of a serious allergic reaction, never take Kivexa or any other medicine containing abacavir again, regardless of whether you have the HLA-B*5701 gene variation or not. Within hours you may experience a life threatening lowering of your blood pressure or death.

Before you use Kivexa, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about all your medicines and medical conditions, if you have kidney or liver disease (including hepatitis B or C), have had previous use of any NRTI class medicine, have been tested and know whether or not you have a gene variation called HLA-B*5701, are pregnant or breastfeeding, about all the medicines you are taking including vitamins, herbal supplements and non prescription drugs.

Kivexa should not be taken with 3TC/ Heptovir, Combivir, Ziagen, Trizivir, Truvada, Complera, Atripla, Emtriva, Stribild, Triumeq. It is important that you tell your doctor or pharmacist about all the medicines listed below or any that you are taking or have recently taken: Sorbitol-containing medicines (usually liquids) used regularly, Methadone, Retinoids, Trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole), an antibiotic used to treat Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (often referred to as PCP) or toxoplasmosis.

Check out our latest blog post