Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine Dosing

Abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine dosing is the same for all adults, regardless of age or weight. However, people weighing less than 88 pounds or who have liver or kidney disease should not take the medication, because the doses from the components of the medication cannot be adjusted separately. The recommended dosage for most adults is one tablet twice daily.

 

Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine Dosage: An Introduction

There is only one standard dose of abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine (Trizivir®), regardless of your age or other factors. However, abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine is not recommended for certain people, since the dose of the individual components of the medication cannot be adjusted separately.
 
As always, do not adjust your abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine Dosing for HIV or AIDS

The recommended abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine dose for treating adults with HIV or AIDS is one tablet (300 mg of abacavir, 150 mg of lamivudine, and 300 mg of zidovudine) twice daily. Abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine can be used alone or in combination with other HIV medications as part of an HIV "cocktail" (this is known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy or HAART).
 
Generally, abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine is not recommended for people with liver or kidney disease or for people who weigh less than 88 pounds, as the dose of the components of abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine cannot be properly adjusted (since the medication comes in only one strength). Instead, the three components of abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine should be taken separately.
 

General Information on Dosing With Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine

Considerations for people taking abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine include the following:
 
  • Abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine comes in tablet form. It is usually taken by mouth twice a day.
     
  • It does not matter if you take abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine with or without food. If the medicine bothers your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Try to take abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine at the same times each day to maintain an even level of the medication in your blood.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. It is very important that you closely follow your healthcare provider's instructions about taking abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine. Missing doses can increase the chance of the virus developing resistance to abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine (making it less effective).
     
  • If you are unsure about anything related to your abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine dosage, please talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
     
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;