Stop taking this drug at the first sign of drug allergy or sensitivity (see "Special Information"). People have died from abacavir sensitivity.

People with liver disease should be cautious about using this drug because of the possibility that it can aggravate the condition. Some people have died from liver damage associated with abacavir.

The use of nucleoside drugs such as abacavir can very rarely cause lactic acidosis, a fatal metabolic disturbance.

Resistance to abacavir has developed in laboratory versions of HIV also resistant to lamivudine, didanosine, and zalcitabine. HIV that is resistant to protease inhibitors is not likely to be resistant to abacavir.

Abacavir cannot be used in infants under age 3 months.

• Alcohol interferes with the elimination of abacavir through the liver and can lead to a 40% increase in the amount of drug in the blood.

• Abacavir can increase blood levels of acetaminophen, amitriptyline, bumetanide, chloral hydrate, chlorpheniramine, chlorpromazine, chlorzoxazone, dapsone, doxepin, fluconazole, imipramine, ketoconazole, labetalol, lamotrigine, miconazole, morphine, naloxone, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), oxazepam, promethazine, propofol, propranolol, and valproic acid.

• Cigarette smoking and clofibrate may reduce the amount of abacavir in the blood.

• Combining abacavir with isoniazid may decrease abacavir levels and increase isoniazid levels in the blood.

• Abacavir levels in the blood may be decreased if you are also taking phenobarbital, phenytoin, or T3 thyroid hormone replacement.

Adult (age 17 and over): 300 mg 2 times a day.

Child (age 3 months-16 years): 3.6 mg per lb. of body weight twice a day, up to a maximum of 300 mg in each dose.

Little is known about the effects of abacavir overdose. Overdose victims should be taken to a hospital emergency room for treatment. ALWAYS bring the prescription bottle or container.

Stop taking this drug and call your doctor at the first sign of allergy or sensitivity. Symptoms include fever, rash, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, sore throat, difficulty breathing, and coughing. If you continue to take abacavir and are allergic to it, more severe reactions including a life-threatening drop in blood pressure could develop in hours. Abacavir is not a cure for HIV. People taking the drug may still develop opportunistic infections and other conditions associated with HIV infection.

People taking abacavir can still be infectious and transmit HIV to others. The long-term effects of abacavir are not known. Report anything unusual to your doctor. It is very important for you to take abacavir exactly as prescribed. If you forget to take a dose and remember within 2 to 3 hours, take the medication. If you forget until it is almost time for your next dose, skip the forgotten dose and continue with your regular schedule. Remember, every dose of any HIV medication you forget or skip can make it more difficult for the drugs to do their job and can also lead to the development of HIV resistant to abacavir.

Pregnancy/Breast-feeding
Abacavir passes into the fetal circulation. In animal studies, the drug caused low birth weight and increased the risk of stillbirth. The effect of abacavir in pregnant women is not known. When this drug is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be carefully weighed against its risks.

It is not known if abacavir passes into breast milk. Women with HIV are advised to bottle-feed their babies to avoid transmitting the drug.

Seniors
Studies of abacavir did not include many seniors. Seniors should use this drug with caution because of the risk that normal reductions in organ function or drug interactions may affect how abacavir works in the body or increase the likelihood of side effects.

• Acarbose adds to the blood-sugar-lowering effect of sulfonylureas and other antidiabetes drugs and may increase the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) associated with these drugs.

• Thiazides and other diuretics, corticosteroid anti-inflammatory drugs, phenothiazines, thyroid drugs, estrogens, oral contraceptives ("the pill"), phenytoin, nicotinic acid, stimulants, calcium channel blockers, and isoniazid may increase blood sugar levels. Your dosage of acarbose may need to be increased if you combine it with any of these drugs.

• Activated charcoal and antacids-and other drugs intended to absorb stomach contents-and digestive enzyme preparations may reduce the effectiveness of acarbose. Separate these drugs from acarbose by at least 2 hours.

• Combining acarbose and digoxin may decrease the effects of digoxin.

Adult: 25-100 mg with breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Child: not recommended.

As with all antidiabetes drugs, people taking acarbose must follow their doctor's instructions for diet, exercise, and blood sugar testing.

Acarbose prevents the breakdown of table sugar. If you take this drug in combination with insulin or a sulfonylurea drug, be sure to have a quick source of glucose (dextrose) with you to treat hypoglycemia (symptoms include tiredness, increased hunger, increased heart rate, sweating, and numbness in the arms and legs).

Read product labels carefully or check with your pharmacist before buying any nonprescription drug to be sure it is safe for diabetics to take with acarbose. It is essential to take each dose of acarbose at the beginning of each meal. Since the drug works in the intestines, it has to be there at the same time as the food you are digesting. If you forget a dose of acarbose, skip it and continue with your regular schedule. Taking a missed dose between meals will not provide any benefit.

Pregnancy/Breast-feeding
Animal studies of acarbose showed no effects on the fetus, but there is no information available on its effect in humans. Blood sugar control is considered essential during pregnancy and insulin is usually prescribed for that purpose. When acarbose is considered crucial by your doctor, its potential benefits must be weighed against its risks. It is not known if acarbose passes into human breast milk. Nursing mothers who must take this drug should bottle-feed.

Seniors
Blood levels of acarbose are higher in older adults, but this is not considered important. Seniors with severe kidney disease should avoid this medication.