 What
is Epzicom?
•
Epzicom is an anti-HIV medication in the category of HIV medicines called nucleoside
reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Epzicom prevents HIV from altering
the genetic material of healthy T-cells. This prevents the cells from producing
new virus and decreases the amount of virus in the body.
•
Epzicom is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline.
It was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use by people
living with HIV in August 2004.
•
Epzicom is a combination of two drugs: 600mg of Ziagen®
(abacavir) and 300mg of Epivir® (3TC). Epzicom
should be prescribed by a healthcare provider for patients who need both of these
drugs. Both of these drugs can still be purchased individually for use in combination
with other anti-HIV drugs.
•
The brand name "Epzicom" is an acronym
for EPivir and ZIagen
in COMbination.
•
Epzicom must be combined with at least one other anti-HIV drug, usually a protease
inhibitor (PI) or a non-nucleoside
reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI).
What
is known about Epzicom? •
Epzicom is a tablet taken once a day. It can be taken with or without food.
•
Epzicom should not be any more or less effective than Ziagen and Epivir taken
as seperate pills together. However, it is considered to be a much more convenient
way of taking these two anti-HIV drugs.
What
about side effects?
•
An important side effect that doctors and patients need to be aware of is "hypersensitivity."
Approximately 8% of people who take Ziagen® (abacavir),
one of the two medications in Epzicom, are allergic to it. This can be serious
and generally requires that Epzicom be stopped, and that Epzicom or Ziagen
should not be taken again. A hypersensitivity reaction usually appears during
the second week of therapy, but it can take as long as six weeks to notice any
symptoms. The most common symptoms are fever and rash, followed by headaches,
stomach upset, feeling sick or tired, sore throat, cough, and shortness of breath.
These symptoms usually get worse over time and it is important that you report
them to your doctor immediately. If you need to stop Epzicom because of this hypersensitivity
reaction, you will still be able to take Epivir, the
other drug in Epzicom.
•
Lactic acidosis, which can be fatal, and severe liver problems have been reported
in people taking nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), including
Ziagen and Epivir, the
two active drugs in Epzicom. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience
nausea, vomiting, or unusual or unexpected stomach discomfort; weakness and tiredness;
shortness of breath; weakness in the arms and legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes;
or pain in the upper stomach area.
•
Anti-HIV drug regimens containing nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors
(NRTIs), including Epzicom, can cause increased fat levels (cholesterol and triglycerides)
in the blood, abnormal body-shape changes (lipodystrophy; including increased
fat around the abdomen, breasts, and back of the neck, as well as decreased fat
in the face, arms, and legs), and diabetes. These side effects of anti-HIV drug
therapy are reviewed in our lessons on Lipodystrophy and Risks To Your Heart (Hyperlipidemia).
What
about drug interactions?
•
It is believed that Epzicom can be safely taken at the same time as most drugs
used to treat HIV and AIDS-related complications.
•
Epzicom should not be taken at the same time as Emtriva or Truvada (containing
Viread and Emtriva). This is because the Epivir in Epzicom is very similar to
Emtriva, and it is not believed that combining these two anti-HIV drugs will make
a regimen any more effective against the virus.
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