TRELAVUE Film-coated tablet Ref.[115292] Active ingredients: Abacavir Dolutegravir Lamivudine

Source: Health Products Regulatory Authority (ZA)  Publisher: GlaxoSmithKline South Africa (Pty) Ltd, 39 Hawkins Avenue, Epping Industria 1, 7460

Contraindications

TRELAVUE is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to dolutegravir, abacavir or lamivudine, or to any of the excipients.

TRELAVUE is contraindicated in combination with dofetilide or pilsicainide.

TRELAVUE is contraindicated for patients with moderate and severe hepatic impairment due to the abacavir component (see PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION).

TRELAVUE is contraindicated during pregnancy or in mothers who are breastfeeding their infants (see PREGNANCY AND LACTATION).

TRELAVUE is contraindicated in patients with renal impairment with a creatinine clearance of <50 ml/min due to the lamivudine component (see PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION).

Metformin is contraindicated in patients taking TRELAVUE.

Special warnings and precautions for use

Warnings relevant to dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine are included in this section. There are no additional warnings relevant to TRELAVUE.

Hypersensitivity to abacavir – refer to Boxed Warning.

Osteonecrosis

Although the aetiology is considered to be multifactorial (including corticosteroid use, alcohol consumption, severe immunosuppression, higher body mass index), cases of osteonecrosis have been reported, particularly in patients with advanced HIV-disease and/or long-term exposure to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). Patients should be advised to seek medical advice if they experience joint aches and pain, joint stiffness or difficulty in movement.

Mitochondrial dysfunction

Nucleoside and nucleotide analogues have been demonstrated in vitro and in vivo to cause a variable degree of mitochondrial damage. There have been reports of mitochondrial dysfunction in HIV negative infants exposed in utero and/or post-natally to nucleoside analogues. Apart from lactic acidosis/hyperlactataemia (see below), other manifestations of mitochondrial dysfunction include haematological disorders (anaemia, neutropenia), and peripheral neuropathy. Some late-onset neurological disorders have been reported (hypertonia, convulsion, abnormal behaviour). It is not known whether the neurological disorders are transient or permanent. Any foetus exposed in utero to nucleoside and nucleotide analogues, even HIV negative infants/children, should have clinical and laboratory follow-up and should be fully investigated for possible mitochondrial dysfunction in case of relevant sign and symptoms.

Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis has been observed in some patients receiving TRELAVUE.

Pancreatitis must be considered whenever a patient develops abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting or elevated biochemical markers. Discontinue use of TRELAVUE until diagnoses of pancreatitis is excluded.

Hypersensitivity to dolutegravir

Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported with dolutegravir and were characterised by rash, constitutional findings and sometimes, organ dysfunction, including liver injury. Discontinue TRELAVUE immediately if signs or symptoms of hypersensitivity reactions develop (including, but not limited to, severe rash or rash accompanied by fever, general malaise, fatigue, muscle or joint aches, blisters, oral lesions, conjunctivitis, facial oedema, hepatitis, eosinophilia, angioedema). Clinical status including liver aminotransferases should be monitored and appropriate therapy initiated. Delay in stopping treatment with TRELAVUE after the onset of hypersensitivity may result in a life-threatening reaction.

Lactic acidosis/severe hepatomegaly with steatosis

Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of abacavir and lamivudine. A majority of these cases have been in women.

Clinical features which may be indicative of the development of lactic acidosis include generalised weakness, anorexia, and sudden unexplained weight loss, gastrointestinal symptoms and respiratory symptoms (dyspnoea and tachypnoea).

In patients with suspicious symptoms of biochemistry, measure the venous lactate level (normal <2 mmol/ℓ) and the serum bicarbonate and respond as follows:

  • Lactate 2-5 mmol/ℓ with minimum symptoms: switch to agents that are less likely to cause lactic acidosis.
  • Lactate 5-10 mmol/ℓ with symptoms and/or with reduced standard bicarbonate: Stop NRTIs and change treatment option. Once lactate has settled, use medicines that are less likely to cause lactic acidosis. Exclude other causes, e.g. sepsis, uraemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, thyrotoxicosis and hyperthyroidism.
  • Lactate > 10 mmol/ℓ: STOP all therapy (80 % mortality).

Diagnosis of lactic acidosis is confirmed by demonstrating metabolic acidosis with an increased anion gap and raised lactate level. Therapy should be stopped in any patient with a raised lactate level. Blood for lactate assay should be heparinised and stored on ice. After recovery, NRTIs should be avoided. Seek expert advice on medicine selection. The above lactate values may not be applicable to paediatric patients. Lactic acidosis and severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, including fatal cases, have been reported with the use of TRELAVUE alone or in combination.

Caution should be exercised when administering TRELAVUE particularly to those with known risk factors for liver disease. Treatment with TRELAVUE should be suspended in any patient who develops clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of lactic acidosis with or without hepatitis (which may include hepatomegaly and steatosis even in the absence of marked transaminase elevations).

Lipodystrophy and metabolic abnormalities

Combination antiretroviral therapy has been associated with the redistribution/accumulation of body fat, including central obesity, dorso-cervical fat, enlargement (buffalo hump), peripheral wasting, facial wasting, breast enlargement, elevated serum lipid and blood glucose levels have been observed either separately or together in some patients (see SIDE EFFECTS). Clinical examination should include evaluation for physical signs of fat redistribution. Consideration should be given to the measurement of serum lipids and blood glucose.

Lipid disorders should be managed as clinically appropriate.

Immune Reconstitution Syndrome

In HIV-infected patients with severe immune deficiency at the time of initiation of anti-retroviral therapy (ART), an inflammatory reaction to asymptomatic or residual opportunistic infections may arise and cause serious clinical conditions, or aggravation of symptoms. Typically, such reactions have been observed within the first few weeks or months of initiation of ART. Relevant examples are tuberculosis, cytomegalovirus retinitis, generalised and/or atypical focal mycobacterial infections and Pneumocystis jiroveci (P. carinii) pneumonia. Any inflammatory symptoms must be evaluated without delay and treatment initiated when necessary. Auto-immune disorders (such as Graves' disease, polymyositis and Guillain-Barre syndrome) have also been reported to occur in the setting of immune reconstitution, however, the time to onset is more variable and can occur many months after initiation of treatment and sometimes can be an atypical presentation.

Liver chemistry elevations consistent with immune reconstitution syndrome were observed in some hepatitis B and/or C co-infected patients at the start of dolutegravir therapy. Monitoring of liver chemistries is recommended in patients with hepatitis B and/or C co-infection (see Patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) later in this section and SIDE EFFECTS).

Patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV)

Particular diligence should be applied in initiating or maintaining effective hepatitis B therapy when starting therapy with TRELAVUE in hepatitis B co-infected patients. Clinical study and marketed use of lamivudine, have shown that some patients with chronic HBV disease may experience clinical or laboratory evidence of recurrent hepatitis upon discontinuation of lamivudine, which may have more severe consequences in patients with decompensated liver disease. If TRELAVUE is discontinued in patients co-infected with HBV, periodic monitoring of both liver function tests and markers of HBV replication should be considered.

Opportunistic infections

Patients receiving TRELAVUE may still develop opportunistic infections and other complications of HIV infection. Therefore patients should remain under close clinical observation by medical practitioners experienced in the treatment of these associated HIV diseases.

Transmission of infection

Patients should be advised that antiretroviral therapy, including TRELAVUE, has not been proven to prevent the risk of transmission of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Appropriate precautions should continue to be taken.

Myocardial Infarction

In a prospective, observational, epidemiological study designed to investigate the rate of myocardial infarction in patients on combination antiretroviral therapy, the use of abacavir within the previous six months was correlated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction. As a precaution the underlying risk of coronary heart disease should be considered when prescribing antiretroviral therapies, including abacavir and action taken to minimise all modifiable risk factors (e.g. hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes mellitus and smoking).

Medicine Interactions

Caution should be given to co-administering medications (prescription and non- prescription) that may change the exposure of dolutegravir, abacavir, lamivudine or medications that may have their exposure changed by TRELAVUE (see CONTRAINDICATIONS and INTERACTIONS).

The co-administration of dolutegravir with etravirine (ETR) is not recommended unless the patient is also receiving concomitant atazanavir + ritonavir (ATV+RTV), lopinavir + ritonavir (LPV+RTV) or darunavir + ritonavir (DRV+RTV) (see INTERACTIONS).

Dolutegravir should not be co-administered with polyvalent cation-containing antacids. Dolutegravir is recommended to be administered 2 hours before or 6 hours after these agents (see INTERACTIONS).

TRELAVUE is recommended to be administered 2 hours before or 6 hours after taking calcium or iron supplements, or alternatively, administered with food (see INTERACTIONS).

Metformin concentrations may be increased by TRELAVUE. Metformin is contraindicated in patients taking TRELAVUE (see CONTRAINDICATIONS). TRELAVUE should not be administered concurrently with other medicinal products containing any of the same active components (dolutegravir, abacavir, and/or lamivudine).

Since the recommended dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg twice daily for patients taking efavirenz, nevirapine, rifampicin and tipranavir/ritonavir, the use of TRELAVUE is not recommended for patients taking these medicines (see INTERACTIONS).

Interaction with other medicinal products and other forms of interaction

Effect of Dolutegravir, Abacavir and Lamivudine on the Pharmacokinetics of Other Agents

In vitro, dolutegravir demonstrated no direct, or weak inhibition (IC50 >50 μM) of the enzymes cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 CYP3A, uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT)1A1 or UGT2B7, or the transporters Pgp, BCRP, BSEP, OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OCT1, MRP2, or MRP4. In vitro, dolutegravir did not induce CYP1A2, CYP2B6 or CYP3A4. In vivo, dolutegravir did not have an effect on midazolam, a CYP3A4 probe. Based on these data, dolutegravir is not expected to affect the pharmacokinetics of medicines that are substrates of these enzymes or transporters.

In medicine interaction studies, dolutegravir did not have a clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of the following: tenofovir, ritonavir, methadone, efavirenz, lopinavir, atazanavir, darunavir, etravirine, fosamprenavir, rilpivirine, bocepravir, telaprevir, and oral contraceptives containing norgelgestromin and ethinyl estradiol. In vitro, dolutegravir inhibited the renal organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) (IC50 = 1,93 μM), multidrug and toxin extrusion transporter (MATE) 1 (IC50 = 6,34 μM) and MATE2-K (IC50 = 24,8 μM). Given dolutegravir's in vivo exposure, it has a low potential to affect the transport of MATE2-K substrates in vivo. In vivo, dolutegravir may increase plasma concentrations of medicines in which excretion is dependent upon OCT2 or MATE1 (dofetilide, pilsicainide or metformin) (see Table 3).

In vitro, dolutegravir inhibited the basolateral renal transporters: organic anion transporter (OAT) 1 (IC50 = 2,12 μM) and OAT3 (IC50 = 1,97 μM). However, dolutegravir had no notable effect on the pharmacokinetics in vivo of the OAT substrates tenofovir and para aminohippurate, and therefore has low propensity to cause medicine interactions via inhibition of OAT transporters.

Abacavir and lamivudine do not inhibit or induce CYP enzymes (such as CYP 3A4, CYP 2C9 or CYP 2D6).

Effect of Other Agents on the Pharmacokinetics of Dolutegravir, Abacavir and Lamivudine

Dolutegravir is eliminated mainly through metabolism by UGT1A1. Dolutegravir is also a substrate of UGT1A3, UGT1A9, CYP3A4, Pgp, and BCRP; therefore medicines that induce these enzymes or transporters may theoretically decrease dolutegravir plasma concentration and reduce the therapeutic effect of dolutegravir. Co-administration of dolutegravir and other medicines that inhibit UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A9, CYP3A4, and/or Pgp may increase dolutegravir plasma concentration (see Table 3).

Efavirenz, nevirapine, rifampicin and tipranavir/ritonavir each reduced the plasma concentrations of dolutegravir significantly and require dolutegravir dose adjustment to 50 mg twice daily. Etravirine also reduced plasma concentrations, but the effect of etravirine was mitigated by co-administration of the CYP3A4 inhibitors lopinavir/ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir and is expected to be mitigated by atazanavir/ritonavir. Therefore no dolutegravir dose adjustment is necessary when co-administered with etravirine and either lopinavir/ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, or atazanavir/ritonavir. Another inducer, fosamprenavir in combination with ritonavir decreased plasma concentrations of dolutegravir but does not require a dosage adjustment of dolutegravir. A medicine interaction study with the UGT1A1 inhibitor, atazanavir, did not result in a clinically meaningful increase in the plasma concentrations of dolutegravir. Tenofovir, ritonavir, lopinavir/ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, rilpivirine, bocepravir, telaprevir, prednisone, rifabutin and omeprazole had no or a minimal effect on dolutegravir pharmacokinetics, therefore no dolutegravir dose adjustment is required when co-administered with these medicines.

The likelihood of metabolic interactions with abacavir and lamivudine is low. Abacavir and lamivudine are not significantly metabolised by CYP enzymes. The primary pathways of abacavir metabolism in human are by alcohol dehydrogenase and by glucuronidation to produce the 5'-carboxylic acid and 5'-glucuronide which account for about 66% of the administered dose. These metabolites are excreted in the urine. The likelihood of metabolic interactions with lamivudine is low due to limited metabolism and plasma protein binding, and almost complete renal clearance. Lamivudine is predominantly eliminated by active organic cationic secretion. The possibility of interactions with other medicinal products administered concurrently should be considered, particularly when the main route of elimination is renal.

Table 3. Medicine Interactions studied with dolutegravir:

Concomitant
Medicine Class:
Medicine Name
Effect on
Concentration of
dolutegravir or
Concomitant
Medicine
Clinical Comment
HIV-1 Antiviral Agents
Non-nucleoside
Reverse
Transcriptase
Inhibitor:
Etravirine (ETR)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 71 %
Cmax ↓ 52 %
Cτ ↓ 88 %
ETR ⟷
Etravirine decreased plasma dolutegravir concentration, which
may result in loss of virologic response and possible resistance
to dolutegravir. TRELAVUE should not be used with etravirine
without co-administration of atazanavir/ritonavir,
darunavir/ritonavir or lopinavir/ritonavir.
Non-nucleoside
Reverse
Transcriptase
Inhibitor:
Efavirenz (EFV)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 57 %
Cmax ↓ 39 %
Cτ ↓ 75 %
EFV ⟷
Efavirenz decreased dolutegravir plasma concentrations.
Since the dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg twice daily when co-
administered with efavirenz the co-administration of efavirenz
with TRELAVUE is not recommended.
Non-nucleoside
Reverse
Transcriptase
Inhibitor:
Nevirapine
Dolutegravir ↓Co-administration with nevirapine has the potential to decrease
dolutegravir plasma concentration due to enzyme induction
and has not been studied. Effect of nevirapine on dolutegravir
exposure is likely similar to or less than that of efavirenz. Since
the dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg twice daily when co-
administered with nevirapine, the co-administration of
nevirapine with TRELAVUE is not recommended.
Protease Inhibitor:
Atazanavir (ATV)
Dolutegravir ↑
AUC ↑ 91 %
Cmax ↑ 49 %
Cτ ↑ 180 %
ATV ⟷
Atazanavir increased dolutegravir plasma concentration. No
dose adjustment is necessary.
Protease Inhibitor:
Atazanavir/ritonavir
(ATV + RTV)
Dolutegravir ↑
AUC ↑ 62 %
Cmax ↑ 33 %
Cτ ↑ 121 %
ATV ⟷
RTV ⟷
Atazanavir/ritonavir increased dolutegravir plasma
concentration. No dose adjustment is necessary.
Protease Inhibitor:
Tipranavir/ritonavir
(TPV + RTV)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 59 %
Cmax ↓ 47 %
C ↓ 76 %
TPV ⟷
RTV ⟷
Tipranavir/ritonavir decreases dolutegravir concentrations.
Since the dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg twice daily when co-
administered with tipranavir/ritonavir, the co-administration of
tipranavir/ritonavir with TRELAVUE is not recommended.
Protease Inhibitor:
Fosamprenavir/
ritonavir (FPV +
RTV)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 35 %
Cmax ↓ 24 %
C ↓ 49 %
FPV ⟷
RTV ⟷
Fosamprenavir/ritonavir decreases dolutegravir
concentrations, but based on limited data, did not result in
decreased efficacy in Phase III studies. No dose adjustment is
necessary in INI-naïve patients.
Protease Inhibitor:
Nelfinavir
Dolutegravir ⟷This interaction has not been studied. Although an inhibitor of
CYP3A4, based on data from other inhibitors, an increase is
not expected. No dose adjustment is necessary.
Protease Inhibitor:
Lopinavir/ritonavir
(LPV + RTV)
DTG ⟷
AUC ⟷
Cmax
Cτ
LPV ⟷
RTV ⟷
Lopinavir/ritonavir did not change dolutegravir plasma
concentration to a clinically relevant extent. No dose
adjustment is necessary.
Protease Inhibitor:
Darunavir/ritonavir
(DRV/RTV)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 32 %
Cmax ↓ 11 %
Cτ ↓ 38 %
DRV ⟷
RTV ⟷
Darunavir/ritonavir did not change dolutegravir plasma
concentration to a clinically relevant extent. No dose adjustment
is necessary.
Nucleoside
Reverse
Transcriptase
Inhibitor:
Tenofovir (TDV)
Dolutegravir ⟷
TDV ⟷
Tenofovir did not change dolutegravir plasma concentration to a
clinically relevant extent. No dose adjustment is necessary.
Protease Inhibitor:
Lopinavir/ritonavir
+ Etravirine
(LPV/RTV + ETR)
Dolutegravir ⟷
AUC ↑ 10 %
Cmax ↑ 7 %
Cτ ↑ 28 %
LPV ⟷
RTV ⟷
ETR ⟷
Lopinavir/ritonavir and etravirine did not change dolutegravir
plasma concentration to a clinically relevant extent. No dose
adjustment is necessary.
Protease Inhibitor:
Darunavir/ritonavir
+ Etravirine
(DRV/RTV + ETR)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 25 %
Cmax ↓ 12 %
Cτ ↓ 36 %
DRV ⟷
RTV ⟷
Darunavir/ritonavir and etravirine did not change dolutegravir
plasma concentration to a clinically relevant extent. No dose
adjustment is necessary.
Other Agents
Dofetilide
Pilsicainide
Dofetilide ↑
Pilsicainide ↑
Co-administration of dolutegravir has the potential to increase
dofetilide or pilsicainide plasma concentration via inhibition of
OCT2 transporter; co-administration has not been studied.
Dofetilide or pilsicainide co-administration with dolutegravir is
contraindicated due to the potential life-threatening toxicity
caused by high dofetilide or pilsicainide concentration (see
CONTRAINDICATIONS).
Oxcarbazepine
Phenytoin
Phenobarbital
Carbamazepine
St. John's wort
Dolutegravir ↓Co-administration may decrease dolutegravir plasma
concentration and has not been studied. Co-administration with
these metabolic inducers should be avoided.
Antacids
containing
polyvalent cations
(e.g., Mg, Al or Ca)
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 74 %
Cmax ↓ 72 %
C24 ↓ 74 %
Co-administration of antacids containing polyvalent cations
decreased dolutegravir plasma concentration. TRELAVUE is
recommended to be administered 2 hours before or 6 hours
after taking antacid products containing polyvalent cations.
Calcium
supplements
Dolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 39 %
Cmax ↓ 37 %
C24 ↓ 39 %
TRELAVUE is recommended to be administered 2 hours
before or 6 hours after taking products containing calcium, or
alternatively, administer with food.
Iron supplementsDolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 54 %
Cmax ↓ 57 %
C24 ↓ 56 %
TRELAVUE is recommended to be administered 2 hours
before or 6 hours after taking products containing iron, or
alternatively, administer with food.
MetforminMetformin ↑Co-administration of dolutegravir increased metformin plasma
concentration. Metformin is contraindicated in patients taking
TRELAVUE (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
RifampicinDolutegravir ↓
AUC ↓ 54 %
Cmax ↓ 43 %
Cτ ↓ 72 %
Rifampicin decreased dolutegravir plasma concentration.
Since the dose of dolutegravir is 50 mg twice daily when co-
administered with rifampicin, the co-administration of rifampicin
with TRELAVUE is not recommended.
Oral
contraceptives
(Ethinyl estradiol
(EE) and
Norgestromin
(NGMN))
Effect of
dolutegravir:
EE ⟷
AUC ↑ 3 %
Cmax ↓ 1 %
Cτ ↑ 2 %

Effect of
dolutegravir:
NGMN ⟷
AUC ↓ 2 %
Cmax ↓ 11 %
Cτ ↓ 7 %
Dolutegravir did not change ethinyl estradiol and norgestromin
plasma concentrations to a clinically relevant extent. No dose
adjustment of oral contraceptives is necessary when co-
administered with dolutegravir.
MethadoneEffect of
dolutegravir:
Methadone ⟷
AUC ↓ 2 %
Cmax ⟷ 0 %
Cτ ↓ 1 %
Dolutegravir did not change methadone plasma concentrations
to a clinically relevant extent. No dose adjustment of
methadone is necessary when co-administered with
dolutegravir.

Abbreviations: ↑ = increase; ↓ = decrease; ⟷ = no significant change; AUC = area under the concentration versus time curve; Cmax = maximum observed concentration, Cτ = concentration at the end of dosing interval.

Table 4. Medicine Interactions studied with abacavir:

Concomitant
Medicine Class:
Medicine Name
Effect on Concentration
of abacavir or
Concomitant Medicine
Clinical Comment
Methadone (40 to
90 mg once daily for
14 days/600 mg
single dose, then
600 mg twice daily for
14 days)
Abacavir AUC ⟷
Cmax ↓ 35 %
Methadone CL/F ↑ 22 %
The changes in abacavir pharmacokinetics are
not considered clinically relevant. The changes
in methadone pharmacokinetics are not
considered clinically relevant for the majority of
patients, however occasionally methadone dose
re-titration may be required.
EthanolAbacavir AUC ↑ 41 %
Ethanol AUC ⟷
Given the safety profile of abacavir, these
findings are not considered clinically significant.

Abbreviations: ↑ = Increase; ↓ = decrease; ⟷ = no significant change; AUC = area under the concentration versus time curve; Cmax = maximum observed concentration, CL/F = apparent clearance

Table 5. Medicine Interactions studied with lamivudine:

Concomitant
Medicine Class:
Medicine Name
Effect on
Concentration of
lamivudine or
Concomitant
Medicine
Clinical Comment
Trimethoprim/sulfa-
methoxazole (Co-
trimoxazole)
(160 mg/800 mg once
daily for 5
days/300 mg single
dose)
Lamivudine: AUC ↑ 40 %
Trimethoprim: AUC ⟷
Sulfamethoxazole: AUC ⟷
Unless the patient has renal impairment, no dosage
adjustment of lamivudine is necessary (see
DOSAGE AND DIRECTIONS FOR USE).
Lamivudine has no effect on the pharmacokinetics
of trimethoprim or sulfamethoxazole. The effect of
co-administration of lamivudine with higher doses
of co-trimoxazole used for the treatment of
Pneumocystis jiroveci (P. carinii) pneumonia and
toxoplasmosis has not been studied. TRELAVUE
should not be used for subjects with CLcr of
<50 ml/min (see CONTRAINDICATIONS).
Emtricitabine Lamivudine may inhibit the intracellular
phosphorylation of emtricitabine when the two
medicinal products are used concurrently.
Additionally, the mechanism of viral resistance for
both lamivudine and emtricitabine is mediated via
mutation of the same viral reverse transcriptase
gene (M184V) and therefore the therapeutic
efficacy of these medicines in combination therapy
may be limited. Lamivudine is not recommended for
use in combination with emtricitabine or
emtricitabine-containing fixed-dose combinations.
Zalcitabine Lamivudine may inhibit the intracellular
phosphorylation of zalcitabine when the two
medicinal products are used concurrently.
TRELAVUE is therefore not recommended to be
used in combination with zalcitabine.

Pregnancy and lactation

TRELAVUE should not be used during pregnancy and lactation as teratogenicity has been observed in animal studies.

The safe use of TRELAVUE in human pregnancy has not been established. Dolutegravir, lamivudine and abacavir were shown to cross the placenta in reproductive toxicity studies in animals.

There have been reports of elevations in serum lactate levels, which may be due to mitochondrial dysfunction, in neonates and infants exposed in utero or peri-partum to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) such as abacavir and lamivudine. The clinical relevance of transient elevations in serum lactate is unknown. There have also been reports of developmental delay, seizures and other neurological disease.

Lactation

HIV infected women should not breastfeed their infants in order to avoid transmission of HIV. It is expected that abacavir and dolutegravir will be secreted into human milk. Lamivudine is excreted in human milk at similar concentrations to those found in serum. Therefore, mothers breastfeeding their infants should not use TRELAVUE.

Effects on ability to drive and use machines

There have been no studies to investigate the effect of TRELAVUE on driving performance or the ability to operate machinery. The clinical status of the patient and the adverse event profile of TRELAVUE should be borne in mind when considering the patient's ability to drive or operate machinery.

Undesirable effects

TRELAVUE contains dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine, therefore the adverse events associated with these may be expected.

Hypersensitivity to abacavir (see also Boxed Warning)

In clinical studies conducted before the introduction of screening for the HLA-B*5701 allele, approximately 5% of subjects receiving abacavir developed a hypersensitivity reaction, which in some cases has proved fatal. This reaction is characterised by the appearance of symptoms indicating multi-organ/body-system involvement. Almost all patients developing hypersensitivity reactions will have fever and/or rash (usually maculopapular or urticarial) as part of the syndrome, however reactions have occurred without rash or fever. Symptoms can occur at any time while being treated with abacavir, but usually appear within the first six weeks of initiation of treatment (median time to onset 11 days).

The signs and symptoms of this hypersensitivity reaction are listed below. Those reported in at least 10% of patients with a hypersensitivity reaction are in bold text.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: rash (usually maculopapular or urticarial)

Gastrointestinal disorders: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, mouth ulceration

Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders: dyspnoea, cough, sore throat, adult respiratory distress syndrome, respiratory failure

General disorders and administrative site conditions: fever, fatigue, malaise, oedema, lymphadenopathy, hypotension, conjunctivitis, anaphylaxis

Nervous system disorders: headache, paraesthesia

Blood and the lymphatic system disorders: lymphopenia

Hepato-biliary disorders: elevated liver function tests, hepatic failure

Musculoskeletal connective tissue and bone disorders: myalgia, rarely myolysis, arthralgia, elevated creatine phosphokinase

Renal and urinary disorders: elevated creatinine, renal failure.

Some patients with hypersensitivity were initially thought to have respiratory disease (pneumonia, bronchitis, pharyngitis), a flu-like illness, gastroenteritis or reactions to other medications. This delay in diagnosis of hypersensitivity has resulted in abacavir being continued or re-introduced, leading to a more severe hypersensitivity reaction or death. Therefore, the diagnosis of hypersensitivity reaction should be carefully considered for patients presenting with symptoms of these diseases. If hypersensitivity reaction cannot be ruled out, TRELAVUE, or any other medicinal product containing abacavir should not be restarted.

The symptoms related to this hypersensitivity reaction worsen with continued therapy and usually resolve upon discontinuation of abacavir. Restarting abacavir following a hypersensitivity reaction results in a prompt return of symptoms within hours. This recurrence of the hypersensitivity reaction may be more severe than on initial presentation and may include life-threatening hypotension and death. Regardless of their HLA-B*5701 status, patients who develop this hypersensitivity reaction must discontinue TRELAVUE and must never be rechallenged with TRELAVUE, or any other medicinal product containing abacavir.

There have been reports of hypersensitivity reactions following re-introduction of abacavir, where the interruption was preceded by a single key symptom of hypersensitivity (rash, fever, malaise/fatigue, gastrointestinal or a respiratory symptom). Hypersensitivity reactions have been reported in patients who have restarted therapy and who had no preceding symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction.

Many of the side effects listed occur commonly (nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, lethargy, rash) in patients with abacavir hypersensitivity. Therefore, patients with any of these symptoms should be carefully evaluated for the presence of this hypersensitivity reaction. If TRELAVUE has been discontinued in patients due to experiencing any one of these symptoms and a decision is made to restart abacavir, this must be done only under direct medical supervision (see Special considerations following an interruption of TRELAVUE therapy in Boxed Warning).

Side effects for dolutegravir, abacavir or lamivudine are listed in the tables below by MedDRA system organ class and by frequency. Frequencies are defined as very common (≥1/10), common (≥1/100, <1/10), uncommon (≥1/1 000, <1/100), rare (≥1/10 000, <1/1 000) and very rare (<1/10 000), including isolated reports.

Clinical Trial Data

Clinical safety data with TRELAVUE are limited. The side effects observed for the combination of the three components of this medicine in analysis of pooled data from clinical trials were generally consistent with the side effect profiles for the individual components dolutegravir, abacavir and lamivudine. However, the following common treatment-emergent side effects were observed with the combination but were not listed in the prescriber information for any of the individual components:

  • Gastrointestinal disorders: abdominal distension, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, dyspepsia
  • Nervous system disorders: somnolence
  • Psychiatric disorders: depression, nightmare and sleep disorder
  • Metabolism and nutrition disorders: hypertriglyceridaemia and hyperglycaemia.

In addition, fatigue and insomnia were observed at a greater frequency with the combination when compared with the individual components. The frequency category for fatigue and insomnia was 'very common' with the combination (previously 'common' with each individual component or with dolutegravir, respectively). There was no difference between the combination and the individual components in severity for any observed side effects.

Table 6. Adverse reactions associated with the individual components of TRELAVUE based on clinical study experience:

System
organ class
DolutegravirAbacavirLamivudine
Blood and
lymphatic
systems
disorders
  Uncommon:
neutropenia, anaemia,
thrombocytopenia
Immune
system
disorders
Uncommon:
hypersensitivity (see
WARNINGS AND
SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS),
immune reconstitution
syndrome (see
WARNINGS AND
SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS)
Common: medicine
hypersensitivity (see
WARNINGS AND
SPECIAL
PRECAUTIONS)
 
Metabolism
and nutrition
disorders
 Common: anorexia 
Psychiatric
disorders
Common: insomnia,
abnormal dreams
  
Nervous
system
disorders
Very common:
headache
Common: dizziness
Common: headacheCommon: headache
Gastrointestinal
disorders
Very common: nausea,
diarrhoea
Common: vomiting,
flatulence, abdominal
pain, upper abdominal
pain, abdominal
discomfort
Common: nausea,
vomiting, diarrhoea
Common: nausea,
vomiting, upper
abdominal pain,
diarrhoea
Hepatobiliary
disorders
Uncommon: hepatitis Uncommon: transient
rises in liver enzymes
(AST, ALT)
Skin and
subcutaneous
tissue
disorders
Common: rash,
pruritus
 Common: rash
General
disorders and
administration
site conditions
Common: fatigueCommon: fever,
lethargy, fatigue
Common: fatigue,
malaise, fever

Changes in laboratory chemistries

Increases in serum creatinine occurred within the first week of treatment with dolutegravir and remained stable through 96 weeks. A mean change from baseline of 12,6 μmol/l was observed after 96 weeks of treatment. These changes are not considered to be clinically relevant since they do not reflect a change in glomerular filtration rate (see Pharmacodynamic properties - Effects on Renal Function). Small increases in total bilirubin (without clinical jaundice) were observed on dolutegravir. These changes are not considered clinically relevant as they likely reflect competition between dolutegravir and unconjugated bilirubin for a common clearance pathway (UGT1A1) (see Pharmacokinetic properties - Metabolism). Asymptomatic creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations mainly in association with exercise have also been reported with dolutegravir therapy.

Post-marketing data

In addition to the side effects included from clinical trial data, the side effects listed in Table 7 below have been identified during post-approval use of abacavir and lamivudine. No dolutegravir or TRELAVUE post-marketing data are available.

Table 7. Side effects based on post-marketing experience:

System organ classAbacavirLamivudine
Blood and lymphatic
systems disorders
 pure red cell aplasia
Metabolism and nutrition
disorders
hyperlactataemia
1lactic acidosis
hyperlactataemia
1lactic acidosis
Nervous system disorders paraesthesiae, peripheral
neuropathy has been reported
although a causal relationship
to treatment is uncertain
Gastrointestinal disorderspancreatitis, but a causal
relationship to abacavir is
uncertain
rises in serum amylase,
pancreatitis, although a causal
relationship to lamivudine is
uncertain
Skin and subcutaneous
tissue disorders
rash (without systemic
symptoms)
erythema multiforme, Stevens-
Johnson syndrome and toxic
epidermal necrolysis
alopecia
Musculoskeletal and
connective tissue
disorders
 arthralgia, muscle disorders
rhabdomyolysis

1 Lactic acidosis (see WARNINGS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS)

Redistribution/accumulation of body fat has been observed in some patients receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (see WARNINGS AND SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS).

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