Medications and Drugs
GENERIC NAME: STAVUDINE - ORAL CAPSULE (STAV-you-deen)
BRAND NAME(S): Zerit
Warning | Medication Uses | How To Use | Side Effects | Precautions | Drug Interactions | Overdose | Notes | Missed Dose | Storage | Medical Alert
WARNING: Infrequently, severe (sometimes fatal) liver and blood acid-base balance problems (lactic acidosis) have occurred while using this medication. Fatal lactic acidosis has also occurred during pregnancy when this medication was used in combination with didanosine and other drugs used to treat HIV. Rare cases of muscle weakness/paralysis have occurred (similar to Guillain- Barre syndrome), especially in those with lactic acidosis. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop dark urine, yellowing of the skin or eyes, abdominal or stomach pain, rapid breathing, drowsiness, muscle aches or weakness, or trouble breathing (e.g., very shallow breathing). When used in combination with certain medicines, pancreatitis (sometimes fatal) has occurred on rare occasions. Notify your doctor immediately if you develop severe stomach/abdominal pain.
USES: This medication is used in combination with other medication(s) to treat HIV infection. Stavudine is not a cure for HIV and does not prevent the passing of HIV to others. One group of HIV medications (the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors-NRTIs such as zidovudine and lamivudine) are very useful. However, NRTIs are recommended to be used in combination with other groups of HIV medications in order to be effective. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details.
HOW TO USE: Take this medication by mouth exactly as prescribed, usually twice a day. For best effects, space the doses at even intervals throughout the day (and night if directed by your doctor). This will help ensure an even level of drug in the body at all times. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to help devise a dosing schedule best for you. Do not increase your dose or take this more often than directed. Your condition will not improve faster but the risk of side effects may be increased.
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.
- Drug Interactions - Learn about potential drug interactions you may be exposed to. Drug interactions can occur with prescription drugs, OTC medication, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
- Human Immunodeficiency Virus - Read about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) causes, symptoms, signs, treatment, prevention, transmission, facts, testing, research (vaccine), statistics and AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
- Drugs: What You Should Know About Your Drugs - Find out what you should know about your drugs such as side effects, warnings and precautions, storage information, and if a generic version is as good as the brand name.
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