ZIAGEN TABLETS 300 mg

TABLET, FILM COATED

**Posology and Method of Administration** **Pharmaceutical Form: Film-coated scored tablets** Therapy should be initiated by a physician experienced in the management of HIV infection. _ZIAGEN_ can be taken with or without food. To ensure administration of the entire dose, the tablet(s) should ideally be swallowed without crushing. For patients who are unable to swallow tablets, the tablets may be crushed and added to a small amount of semi-solid food or liquid, all of which should be consumed immediately ( _see Pharmacokinetic Properties_ – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_) _**Adults, adolescents and children weighing at least 25 kg:**_ The recommended dose of _ZIAGEN_ Tablets is 600 mg daily. This may be administered as either 300 mg (one tablet) twice daily or 600 mg (two tablets) once daily. _**Children from three months and weighing less than 25 kg:**_ A dosing regimen according to weight bands is recommended for _ZIAGEN_ scored tablets. _**Children weighing 14 to < 20 kg:**_ 150 mg (one-half of a scored abacavir tablet) twice daily or 300 mg (one whole tablet) taken once daily. _**Children weighing ≥ 20 kg to < 25 kg:**_ 150 mg (one-half of a scored abacavir tablet) taken in the morning and 300 mg (one whole tablet) taken in the evening or 450 mg (one and a half tablets) taken once daily. _**Children weighing at least 25 kg:**_ the adult dosage of 300 mg (one tablet) twice daily or 600 mg (two tablets) once daily should be taken. _**Children less than three months:**_ the data available on the use of _ZIAGEN_ in this age group are very limited ( _see Pharmacokinetic Properties_ – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). Patients changing from the twice daily dosing regimen to the once daily dosing regimen should take the recommended once daily dose (as described above) approximately 12 hours after the last twice daily dose, and then continue to take the recommended once daily dose (as described above) approximately every 24 hours. When changing back to a twice daily regimen, patients should take the recommended twice daily dose approximately 24 hours after the last once daily dose. _**Renal impairment:**_ No dosage adjustment of _ZIAGEN_ is necessary in patients with renal dysfunction ( _see Pharmacokinetic Properties_ – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). _**Hepatic impairment:**_ Abacavir is metabolised primarily by the liver. _ZIAGEN_ is contraindicated in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment, as the pharmacokinetics have not been studied in these patient groups ( _see Pharmacokinetic Properties_ – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_).