Stop using abacavir and call your doctor at once if you have symptoms of an allergic reaction from two or more of these specific side effect groups:
Group 1 – fever;
Group 2 – rash;
Group 3 – nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain;
Group 4 – general tiredness, body aches;
Group 5 – shortness of breath, cough, sore throat.
Once you have had an allergic reaction to abacavir, you must never use it again. If you stop taking abacavir for any reason, talk to your doctor before you start taking the medication again.
Abacavir can cause other serious side effects that may not be signs of an allergic reaction. Call your doctor at once if you have:
lactic acidosis – muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, slow or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired;
liver damage – nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
severe skin symptoms – fever, sore throat, and headache with a severe blistering, peeling, and red skin rash;
pancreatitis – severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
wheezing, trouble breathing;
vision changes or increased sensitivity to light;
urinating less than usual or not at all;
fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or
any other signs of new infection.
Less serious side effects may include:
sleep problems or strange dreams;
headache, mood changes; or
changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your
