Abacavir - (Ziagen®)

This drug is commonly used to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection. Abacavir belongs to the group of drugs called NRTI's (Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors).

Your Results

Low risk of side effects

Based on your genetic markers, you are likely to have a low risk of serious side effects should you use abacavir. These include a life-threatening allergic reaction (hypersensitivity), with symptoms that can include fever, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, extreme fatigue or achiness, shortness of breath, cough or sore throat.

Drug and side effects fact

Generic name: abacavir (a-BACK-a-veer)

Brand names: Ziagen®

Other formulations: Some formulations of abacavir combine this drug with other anti-HIV drugs. Examples of this include the combination of abacavir and lamivudine (Epzicom®, Kivenxa®), and the combination of abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine (Trizivir®).

Primary uses: Abacavir is an antiviral medication approved by the FDA for treating HIV infection.

Side effects: Based on their genetic makeup, some people are at increased risk for a severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction known as abacavir hypersensitivity reaction.

Learn more about how this drug affects you

What you can do

This information could be important for your health.

Let your doctor(s) know about this genetic result.
Carry this information with you should it be needed in a medical consultation or emergency.
Consider sharing this information with your family.

If you are being treated for HIV, now or in the future, these genetic results indicate that abacavir may be a good option for you.

Learn more about what you can do

How common are these side effects?

Five percent of people taking abacavir experience abacavir hypersensitivity reactions during the first one to two months of treatment. (This estimate reflects past occurrences of this side effect in the general population, not your personal genetic risk, and includes people of all ancestries.)

To date, personal genetic information -- namely whether you carry a genetic risk variant called HLA-B*5701 -- is the best predictor of abacavir hypersensitivity reactions.

Learn more about side effects