Abacavir Oral: Dosing, Indications, and Precautions
Oral abacavir guidance for HIV treatment in combination with other antiretrovirals, including weight-based fixed-dose combination dosing.
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Source reviewed
October 2024
Guide category
Oral drugs
Safety boundary
Prescription medicine information for clinician-guided use.
Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.
Therapeutic action
Antiretroviral, HIV nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
Indications
HIV infection, in combination with other antiretrovirals.
Forms and strengths
- Fixed-dose combinations with lamivudine (3TC).
- 120 mg abacavir/60 mg lamivudine breakable and dispersible tablet.
- 600 mg abacavir/300 mg lamivudine tablet.
Dose
The daily dose can be administered once daily or in 2 divided doses.
Child 1 month and over and adult
- 3 to < 6 kg: 120/60 mg, 1/2 tablet 2 times daily or 1 tablet once daily.
- 6 to < 10 kg: 180/90 mg, 1/2 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening, or 1 1/2 tablets once daily.
- 10 to < 14 kg: 240/120 mg, 1 tablet 2 times daily or 2 tablets once daily.
- 14 to < 20 kg: 300/150 mg, 1 tablet in the morning and 1 1/2 tablets in the evening, or 2 1/2 tablets once daily.
- 20 to < 25 kg: 360/180 mg, 1 1/2 tablets 2 times daily or 3 tablets once daily.
- >= 25 kg: 600/300 mg, 1 tablet once daily.
| Weight | Daily dose ABC/3TC | 120/60 mg tablet | 600/300 mg tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to < 6 kg | 120/60 mg | 1/2 tab x 2 or 1 tab x 1 | - |
| 6 to < 10 kg | 180/90 mg | 1/2 tab morning and 1 tab evening or 1 1/2 tab x 1 | - |
| 10 to < 14 kg | 240/120 mg | 1 tab x 2 or 2 tab x 1 | - |
| 14 to < 20 kg | 300/150 mg | 1 tab morning and 1 1/2 tab evening or 2 1/2 tab x 1 | - |
| 20 to < 25 kg | 360/180 mg | 1 1/2 tab x 2 or 3 tab x 1 | - |
| >= 25 kg | 600/300 mg | - | 1 tab x 1 |
Duration
Depending on the efficacy and tolerance of abacavir.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with severe hepatic impairment or a history of hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir that led to discontinuation of treatment.
- Administer with caution to patients with hypertension, diabetes, or hyperlipidaemia because treatment might increase the risk of coronary disease.
- May cause hypersensitivity reactions with fever, rash, gastrointestinal disturbances, pharyngitis, cough, dyspnoea, malaise, headache, lethargy, myalgia, and arthralgia.
- May also cause lactic acidosis, pancreatitis, and hepatic disorders.
- In all of these cases, stop taking abacavir immediately and permanently.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.
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