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Abacavir, commonly abbreviated “ABC,” is an antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV infection. It belongs to the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class of antiretroviral medications, which work by inhibiting reverse transcriptase, a key enzyme for viral multiplication, ultimately preventing duplication of the HIV virus. Within the NRTI class, abacavir is a carbocyclic nucleoside. Similar to other NRTI’s, abacavir is used in combination with other HIV medications, and is not indicated for use as monotherapy in the treatment of HIV. Abacavir is on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines, which is updated every 2 years and includes a “list of minimum medicine needs for a basic health-care system”.

Abacavir is generally well tolerated; however, it has black box warnings for hypersensitivity, liver damage, and lactic acidosis. Genetic testing can indicate whether an individual is likely to exhibit hypersensitivity. Common symptoms of abacavir-associated hypersensitivity include rash, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue.

Commonly, abacavir is formulated in combination with other HIV medications, such as abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine, abacavir/dolutegravir/lamivudine, and abacavir/lamivudine. It also comes individually formulated as a tablet or a solution.