DOLVIDIN can have side effects. Not all side effects reported for DOLVIDIN are included in this leaflet. Should your general health worsen or if you experience any untoward effects while taking DOLVIDIN, please consult your healthcare provider for advice.
When you are being treated for HIV, it can be hard to tell whether a symptom is a side effect of DOLVIDIN or other medicines you are taking, or an effect of the HIV disease itself. So, it is very important to talk to your doctor about any changes in your health.
Some side effects may only be seen in your blood tests and may not appear immediately after you start taking DOLVIDIN. If you get any of these effects, and if they are severe, your doctor may advise you to stop taking DOLVIDIN.
Hypersensitivity to abacavir: About 5 in every 100 people who take abacavir develop a hypersensitivity reaction (a serious allergic reaction) which can be life-threatening. It is very important that you read and understand the information about this serious reaction. See ‘Take special care with DOLVIDIN’.
If any of the following happens, stop taking / using DOLVIDIN and tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital:
- swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips and mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing,
- rash or itching,
- fainting.
These are all very serious side effects. If you have them, you may have had a serious reaction to DOLVIDIN. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
- symptoms of infection and inflammation such as muscle weakness and/or muscle pain joint pain or swelling, weakness beginning in the hands and feet and moving up towards the trunk of the body, palpitations or tremor, hyperactivity (excessive restlessness and movement)
- lactic acidosis with signs such as deep, rapid, difficult breathing, drowsiness, numbness or weakness in the limbs, feeling sick (nausea), vomiting and stomach pain
- a widespread rash with blisters and peeling skin, particularly around the mouth, nose, eyes and genitals (Stevens–Johnson syndrome), and a more severe form causing skin peeling (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
body shape changes such as fat may be lost from the legs, arms or face, extra fat may build up around the stomach, or on the breasts or internal organs, fatty lumps (sometimes called buffalo hump) may appear on the back of the neck
These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of the following:
Frequent side effects:
- loss of appetite
- difficulty in sleeping, abnormal dreams, depression, anxiety
- nightmares, sleep disorder
- headache, dizziness, sleepiness, lack of energy
- cough, nasal symptoms
- nausea, diarrhoea
- vomiting, wind (flatulence), stomach pain, stomach discomfort, indigestion
- reflux (heartburn)
- hair loss
- muscle pain and discomfort
- joint pain
- physical weakness, general feeling of being unwell, tiredness, fever
- increased liver enzymes
Less frequent side effects:
- decreased number of cells involved in blood clotting (thrombocytopenia).
- low red blood cell count (anaemia) or low white blood cell count (neutropenia)
- a failure of the bone marrow to produce new red blood cells (pure red cell aplasia).
- increase in sugar (glucose) in the blood
- increase in triglycerides (type of fat) in the blood
- suicidal thoughts and behaviours (particularly in patients who have had depression or mental health problems before)
- numbness, tingly, pain feelings in the skin (pins and needles) of the hands and feet
- inflammation of the pancreas
- inflammation of the liver
- skin rash, which may form blisters and looks like small targets (central dark spots surrounded by a paler area, with a dark ring around the edge) (erythema multiforme)
- muscle weakness, pain and vomiting
- increased liver enzymes especially amylase
If you notice any side effects not mentioned in this leaflet, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects via the “6.04 Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Form”, found online under SAHPRA’s publications: https://www.sahpra.org.za/documents/adverse-drug-reactions-and-quality-problem-reporting-form. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of DOLVIDIN.
