Abamun

"Abamun" is one of the most effective drugs in the treatment of HIV infection.

Indications Abamun

"Abamun" is a drug produced in India, intended for the treatment of HIV infection in children and adults.

It's a pity, but there are no analogues among domestic drugs. Why "a pity" because this drug is very difficult to get in our country, it is rarely available in pharmacies, especially in small towns or villages. You have to order it from special large pharmacies (where, of course, they accept orders) or negotiate with a doctor, which is more effective.

"Abamun" is often called "Abacavir", since this is its international name. But when buying a drug, if you are offered "Abacavir", you should clarify - which one exactly, since this international name is also inherent in other drugs, for example, "Abamate", "Trizivir", "Abacavir".

Release form

Yellow, capsule-shaped, biconvex tablets "Abamun" are smooth on all sides and covered with a film shell. Each tablet contains the active substance - abacavir, which penetrates into the most "inaccessible places" of the body and fights the virus from the inside.

One cardboard package of "Abamun" contains 30 tablets, which are sealed in an airtight plastic container for safe storage.

"Abamun" in its packaging contains an insert with a detailed description of indications and contraindications, doses and methods of administration, side effects, storage conditions and shelf life.

Pharmacodynamics

"Abamun" is an antiviral drug that belongs to the nucleoside family and acts selectively on HIV-1 and HIV-2 (including HIV-1 strains that are resistant to "Lamivudine", "Zidovudine", "Zalcitabine", "Didanosine", "Nevirapine").

"Abamun" breaks the RNA chain and stops viral replication by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase. The possible growth of resistance is associated with genotypic changes in a specific codon (K65R, M184V, Y115F, L74V) zone of the reverse transcriptase. As for HIV resistance, it progresses, in principle, slowly; numerous changes (mutations) are necessary for an 8-fold increase in the accumulation of IC50. If we talk about the growth of cross-resistance, this is almost impossible. Increases the number of CD4 cells in the blood and reduces the accumulation of infectious RNA, including cerebrospinal fluid.

Pharmacokinetics

Absorption is high, bioavailability is 83%. Cmax is 3 mcg/ml; the period to reach Cmax is 1–1.5 hours (naturally, after taking the drug “Abamun”).

Food slows down the absorption of "Abamun", and logically, Cmax decreases, but AUC remains unchanged, that is, after 12 hours after taking the drug.

Metabolism occurs in the liver via alcohol dehydrogenase and the formation of glucuronide conjugates, more precisely: 5'-carboxylic acid and 5'-glucuronide. Excreted through the kidneys as metabolites - 83%, 2% - unchanged, the remaining amount exits through the intestines.

If we talk about the connection with proteins, it is quite low.

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Dosing and administration

"Abamun" has instructions, but still, individual recommendations of the doctor regarding the course of treatment are not excluded. Naturally, the attending physician must have experience working with patients with HIV or AIDS.

The medicine is taken regardless of the diet, that is, it does not matter whether the drug is taken before or after meals.

The course of treatment requires swallowing the tablet whole, without chewing or crushing. It can be added to food (a small amount) or to liquid and consumed immediately after the drug has dissolved.

Let's move on to proportions: adults and children (up to 3 years old) whose body weight is not less than 30 kg take "Abamun" 600 mg per day. Treatment is carried out in two ways: either one tablet twice a day, or 2 - 1 time per day.

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Use Abamun during pregnancy

"Abamun" has not undergone enough tests to say with certainty about its properties on the fetus in the womb. The same applies to nursing mothers.

A doctor may prescribe Abamun during pregnancy if the expected benefit of treatment for the mother outweighs the possible risk to the fetus.

In addition, its secretion into breast milk remains unknown. If a nursing mother needs to take this medication, the lactation process should be stopped.

As a rule, pregnant and nursing mothers are offered other similar drugs as treatment, but they are less dangerous for the health of the child.

Contraindications

"Abamun", like other drugs with the international name "Abacavir", have virtually no contraindications, with the exception of: hypersensitivity and children under 3 years of age.

But, be that as it may, "Abamun" is prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the available tests, since, in addition to contraindications, there are also side effects, the specificity of which depends on the individual tolerance of the drug, that is, the perception of the therapeutic effect of "Abamun" by the body, which, in turn, has serious consequences, which we will consider in more detail below.

Side effects Abamun

So, when taking "Abamun", the patient should know the list of possible reactions to the drug: allergy, drowsiness, fatigue, fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, arthralgia, myalgia, dyspnea, paresthesia, headache, conjunctivitis, lymphadenopathy, ulceration of the oral mucosa, increased activity of CPK, increased activity of "liver" transaminases, lactic acidosis, hypercreatininemia, fatty liver disease (usually in women), hepatomegaly.

"Abamun" does not eliminate the process of transmission of the virus - HIV sexually or through blood. Accordingly, the use of the drug is not a guarantee of safety during this period (intimacy or blood transfusion).

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Overdose

During clinical trials, Abamun, the dose of which was increased to 1800 mg, showed no side effects. If we talk about higher doses, the result of an overdose is unknown. There is also no specific antidote. In case of an overdose, it is logical that the patient should be under strict medical supervision. But, again, there is no information on whether it is possible to remove the drug from the body using peritoneal or hemodialysis.

In any case, if you experience any of the symptoms listed in the side effects, you should immediately contact your doctor.

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Interactions with other drugs

As a result of research, "Abamun" has shown certain reactions when interacting with other drugs:

• "Ethanol" - the metabolism of "Abamun" changes, the area of concentration changes by about 41%. The action of "Abamun" does not affect the metabolism of "Ethanol",
• "Methadone" when taken simultaneously with "Abamun", the dose of which is 600 mg 2 times a day, reduces the maximum concentration of "Abamun" and the maximum time to reach it by 35%,
• "Retinoids" and "Abamun" have not been studied when taken simultaneously, therefore their compatibility is unknown,
• "Ribavirin" has the same phosphorylation pathways, leading to the hypothesis that concomitant administration may provoke a decrease in intracellular phosphorylated metabolites of "Ribavirin", as a possibility of a sustainable virological response to hepatitis C.

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Storage conditions

"Abamun" does not require impossible storage conditions. The requirements for this issue are standard:

• dry, dark place,
• limited access for children,
• the air temperature should not exceed 30ºС,
• Store in package with instructions.

Compliance with these rules prevents such problems as loss of instructions for the drug, loss of its therapeutic properties, and, of course, the health of children.

"Abamun" may heat up at high temperatures or in bright light, during which the necessary enzymes evaporate; at high air humidity the tablets may become "damp".

Special instructions

Naturally, this medication is only available in pharmacies with a prescription. Despite the effectiveness of the treatment, this medication does not prevent the transmission of HIV or AIDS through sexual intercourse.

Thanks to such drugs as "Abamun", which are suitable for both adults and children, people with HIV or AIDS have received hope for tomorrow. It has long been no secret that scientists have invented drugs that can fight HIV infection, 25 of which have been approved for use.

People with the immunodeficiency virus should not panic, but solve the problem immediately before the infection starts to gain momentum. First of all, it is necessary to choose a competent specialist who has the skills to work with HIV or AIDS patients, as well as positive reviews. A properly selected course of treatment, which includes the drug "Abamun", has already saved the lives and health of many people.

Shelf life

In a situation of proper storage, the shelf life of "Abamun" is 2 years. Otherwise, "Abamun" loses its functionality, during which its shelf life is reduced to an indefinite date. The release date is indicated on the packaging, which must be paid attention to.

"Abamun" is not suitable for use after two years from the date of manufacture, since its active and additional substances lose their therapeutic relevance. The likelihood of poisoning or other side effects as a result of taking an expired drug has not been recorded, that is, cases are unknown. However, this does not provide a 100% guarantee of safe use.