Patients taking abacavir/lamivudine mylan, which contains abacavir, may develop a hypersensitivity reaction (serious allergic reaction) which can be life-threatening if treatment with abacavir/lamivudine mylan is continued. Contact your doctor immediately for advice on whether you should stop taking abacavir/lamivudine mylan if:

1) you get a skin rash or

2) you get one or more symptoms from at least two of the following groups:

Fever

Shortness of breath, sore throat or cough

Nausea or vomiting or diarrhoea or abdominal pain

Severe tiredness or achiness or generally ill feeling

If you have had a hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction to abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets, never take abacavir/lamivudine mylan, or any other medicinal product containing abacavir again as you may develop a life threatening reaction which can be fatal.

There is an alert card included in the abacavir/lamivudine mylan pack, to remind you and medical staff about abacavir hypersensitivity. This card should be removed from the pack and kept with you at all times. See more details under before you take abacavir/lamivudine mylan.

What is in this leaflet

Please read this leaflet carefully before you start abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets.

This leaflet answers some common questions about abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets. It does not contain all of the available information.

It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist (also known as a chemist).

All medicines have benefits and risks. Your doctor has weighed the expected benefits of you taking abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets against the risks this medicine could have for you.

If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Keep this leaflet with the tablets.

What abacavir/ lamivudine mylan tablets are used for

Abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets contain abacavir and lamivudine which belong to a group of medicines called antiretrovirals.

These are also available as separate medicinal products.

Abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets are used together with other antiretrovirals to slow down the progression of human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) infection, which can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (aids) and other related illnesses (e.g. Aids-related complex or arc).

Abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets do not cure aids or kill the hiv virus, but delays further damage to the immune system by stopping production of new viruses.

Abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets do not reduce the risk of passing the infection to others. You will still be able to pass on the hiv virus by sexual activity or by contamination with infected blood. You should still use proper precautions to prevent this.

While taking abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets and/or any other therapy for hiv disease, you may continue to develop other infections and other complications of hiv infection. You should keep in regular contact with the doctor who is looking after you.

Abacavir/lamivudine mylan tablets are not addictive.