Common adverse reactions of abacavir that can be confused with an acute porphyric attack are nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. These side effects may potentially be porphyrinogenic if leading to a decrease in carbohydrate intake.

Abacavir is not a metabolized by CYP450 enzymes and is not an inducer or a mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP450 enzymes.

Nucleoside analogue

Abacavir is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) indicated in the antiretroviral combination therapy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in adults, adolescents and children. It is administered orally.

Abacavir is mainly metabolized in the liver by alcohol dehydrogenase and by glucuronidation (SPC). Abacavir is not metabolized by CYP450 enzymes, and has been shown in vitro not to inhibit or induce CYP3A4, 2C9 and 2D6 (SPC). No drug-drug interactions with abacavir as perpetrator have been reported in the literature (interaktionsdatabasen.dk, Yuen 2008).