Combivir
Combivir is a combination antiviral medication used to treat HIV‚ which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Combivir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
What is Combivir?
Combivir is an oral drug that combines lamivudine (Epivir) and zidovudine (Retrovir). It is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) used in combination with other antiretroviral medications to treat HIV-1 infection. Combivir helps slow down the progression of HIV infection‚ which can lead to AIDS and other related illnesses.
How does Combivir work?
Combivir works by interfering with the HIV virus’s ability to replicate within the body. Both lamivudine and zidovudine are nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors. They work by getting incorporated into the DNA of the HIV virus during the replication process‚ which ultimately blocks the virus from producing more copies of itself.
Dosage
The recommended oral dose of Combivir in HIV-1-infected adults and adolescents weighing more than 66 lbs (30 kg) is 1 tablet (containing 150 mg of lamivudine and 300 mg of zidovudine) twice daily. The dosage may be different for children and people with liver problems.
Side Effects
Common side effects of Combivir include⁚
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Fever
Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Combivir including⁚
- Numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
- Pale skin
- Unusual tiredness
- Shortness of breath
- Fast or irregular heartbeat
- Unusual bleeding or bruising
- Dark urine
- Yellowing eyes or skin
- Severe stomach or abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
Combivir may cause serious side effects including⁚
- A decrease in blood cells (anemia‚ neutropenia)
- Muscle pain (myopathy)
- Muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis)
- Pancreatitis
- Liver enlargement
- Immune reconstitution syndrome (a worsening of HIV symptoms as the immune system recovers)
- Exacerbation of hepatitis B in people who are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B
Get medical help right away if you have any of the symptoms listed above.
Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects⁚
- Signs of an allergic reaction (hives‚ difficult breathing‚ swelling in your face or throat)
- Signs of lactic acidosis (unusual muscle pain‚ trouble breathing‚ stomach pain‚ nausea with vomiting‚ feeling cold‚ dizziness‚ weakness or fatigue‚ irregular heartbeat)
- Signs of liver problems (loss of appetite‚ upper stomach pain‚ tiredness‚ dark urine‚ clay-colored stools‚ jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes))
Interactions
Combivir may interact with cancer treatments‚ other drugs to treat HIV/AIDS‚ antiviral medications‚ interferon‚ or sulfa drugs. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with Combivir. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection. It is unknown if Combivir will harm an unborn baby. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. If you are pregnant‚ your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of Combivir on the baby. Combivir passes into breast milk; Because breast milk can transmit HIV‚ do not breastfeed.
Important Note
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with your doctor about your medical condition and treatment options.