Brand Name: Combivir
Generic Name: lamivudine and zidovudine
Drug Class: Antivirals, Other
What is Combivir, and what is it used for?
Combivir is used, in combination with other agents, for the treatment of HIV infection.
What are the side effects of Combivir?
The most serious side effects of Combivir are
- a decrease in blood cells,
- muscle pain (myopathy),
- muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis),
- pancreatitis,
- liver enlargement,
- immune reconstitution syndrome,
- exacerbation of hepatitis B,
- fatty liver,
- hypersensitivity reactions, and
- metabolic disturbance (lactic acidosis).
Other side effects include
- chills,
- rash,
- abdominal pain,
- nausea and vomiting,
- weight loss,
- headache,
- diarrhea,
- weakness,
- cough, and
- insomnia.
Accumulation or redistribution of fat also may occur.
What is the dosage for Combivir?
What drugs interact with Combivir?
- Fluconazole (Diflucan), probenecid, trimethoprim (Trimpex) and valproic acid (Depakote) reduce the elimination of zidovudine and therefore increase the concentration in blood of zidovudine. This can lead to increased side effects from zidovudine.
- Lamivudine and zalcitabine (Hivid) reduce the action of one another. Therefore Combivir should not be combined with zalcitabine. Stavudine (Zerit) or doxorubicin reduce the activity of zidovudine and should not be combined with Combivir.
- Combining zidovudine with ganciclovir (Cytovene), interferon alfa, ribavirin (Rebetol), or other drugs that suppress bone marrow production of blood cells increases the effect of zidovudine on production of blood cells.
SLIDESHOW
A Timeline of the HIV/AIDS Pandemic See SlideshowPregnancy and breastfeeding
- Use of Combivir during pregnancy has not been adequately evaluated. However, use of zidovudine by HIV infected women reduces the transmission of HIV to the baby.
- Use of Combivir by nursing mothers has not been studied. Lamivudine and zidovudine are excreted in breast milk. HIV infected mothers should not breast feed because of the potential risk of transmitting HIV to an infant that is not infected.
What else should I know about Combivir?
What preparations of lamivudine and zidovudine are available?
Tablets: 150/300 mg (lamivudine/zidovudine)
How should I keep lamivudine and zidovudine stored?
The tablets should be stored at 2 C to 30 C (36 F to 86 F).
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Summary
Combivir is a drug that is used in combination with other agents to treat HIV infection. Serious side effects include fatty liver, pancreatitis, liver enlargement, rhabdomyolysis, lactic acidosis. Drug interactions, and dosage, and pregnancy and breastfeeding information should be reviewed prior to taking this medication.
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Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a sexually transmitted virus that attacks the immune system. If it is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). Currently, there is no cure for HIV. Once someone is infected, they have it for life, though with treatment, people with HIV can live long, healthy, fulfilling lives.
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Can the HIV Virus Go Away?
There is no cure or vaccine for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; however, early treatment can help increase the life expectancy of infected people.
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AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
AIDS is the advanced stage of HIV infection. Symptoms and signs of AIDS include pneumonia due to Pneumocystis jiroveci, tuberculosis, toxoplasmosis, seizures, weakness, meningitis, yeast infection of the esophagus, and Kaposi's sarcoma. Anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) is used in the treatment of AIDS.
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Treatment & Diagnosis
Medications & Supplements
- Drugs: Questions to Ask Your Doctor or Pharmacist about Your Drugs
- Drug Interactions
- How Effective Is ART for HIV Infection?
- What Are the Single-Tablet ART Regimens for HIV Infection?
- Retrovir (zidovudine, ZDV, formerly called AZT)
- abacavir, Ziagen
- What ART Drugs Prevent HIV Entry into the Human Immune Cell?
- What Are NNRTIs In Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection?
- zalcitabine
- Dovato (dolutegravir and lamivudine)
- didanosine (Videx, Videx EC)
- How Do Protease Inhibitors Work in Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection?
- What Are NRTIs in Antiretroviral Therapy For HIV Infection?
- lamivudine (3tc) (Epivir; Epivir HBV)
- stavudine (Zerit)
- Triumeq (abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine)
- delavirdine (Rescriptor)
- abacavir, lamivudine, zidovudine (Trizivir)
- Side Effects of Combivir (lamivudine and zidovudine)
- How Do Integrase Strand-Transfer Inhibitors Work in Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection?
- efavirenz (Sustiva)
- nevirapine (Viramune, Viramune XR)
- Temixys (lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.