Epzicom Side Effects (Cont.)

Epzicom Side Effects to Report

Some side effects with Epzicom, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include, but are not limited to:
 
  • Anemia
  • Frequent infections, which may be a sign of low neutrophil levels in the blood (known medically as neutropenia)
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising, which may be a sign of low blood platelets (known as thrombocytopenia)
  • Worsening of a hepatitis B infection
  • Symptoms of lactic acidosis (too much lactic acid in the blood), such as:

 

    • Feeling tired or weak
    • Muscle pain
    • Trouble breathing
    • Stomach pain
    • Feeling cold
    • Cold or blue hands and feet
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness
    • A slow or irregular heartbeat
    • Persistent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • An enlarged or tender liver
    • Weight loss

 

  • Signs of liver problems, such as yellow eyes or skin (jaundice), dark urine, or liver enlargement or pain
  • Changes in the distribution of fat on your body (such as a "buffalo hump")
  • Depression (see Epzicom and Depression)
  • Anxiety.
     

Epzicom and Allergic Reactions

Abacavir (one of the components of Epzicom) can cause very serious (sometimes life-threatening) allergic reactions. These dangerous reactions are actually fairly common. Some of the symptoms of an allergic reaction to abacavir are common and may not actually be due to an allergic reaction in all cases. In order to help people know if a serious allergic reaction is occurring, the manufacturer of Epzicom has developed a system involving groups of symptoms. It is recommended that you stop taking Epzicom and call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop symptoms from two or more of the following groups of symptoms:
 
  • Group 1 -- Fever
  • Group 2 -- Rash
  • Group 3 -- Nausea, vomiting diarrhea, or abdominal pain (stomach pain)
  • Group 4 -- Extreme fatigue, a general ill feeling (malaise), or achiness
  • Group 5 -- Shortness of breath, cough, or a sore throat.
     
(Epzicom Side Effects Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;