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?
- For the treatment of HIV infection, the recommended oral dose for adults or children weighing 30 kg or more is one tablet twice daily.
- Combivir is administered without regard to meals since food does not affect its absorption.
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.
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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.
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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Related Disease Conditions
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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 I Get HIV From Surfaces?
Studies proved that HIV cannot be transmitted through surfaces such as toilet seats, chairs, doorknobs, drinking glasses and bedsheets. The virus cannot survive outside a human host; hence, transmission through air, water (swimming pools), insect bite or casual contacts such as handshake, hug or touch is not possible.
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What Is a Detectable HIV Viral Load? Normal Viral Load
Detectable viral load is defined as having more than 200 copies of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) per milliliter of blood.
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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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Is It Possible for HIV to Go Away on Its Own?
When a person contracts the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), they are infected for life; however, early treatment can help them live normal lives.
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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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Can HIV be Cured Naturally?
HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. If someone has HIV it means that they have been diagnosed with the HIV infection. AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome); however, is the most advanced or final stage of the HIV infection. It is important to get tested for HIV in the early stages of infection to minimize the damage to the immune system. Successful treatment aims to reduce HIV load to a level that is harmless to the body.
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Does HIV Have a Permanent Cure?
As of now, there is no permanent HIV cure, but antiretroviral treatment can effectively control HIV.
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How Is HIV Currently Being Treated?
Treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is ongoing and consists of various antiviral medication combinations (antiretroviral therapy).
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What Does HIV Do to a Person?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and weakens the immune system, impairing the body's ability to fight diseases and infections.
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How Many HIV Treatments Are There?
Treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) often involves a combination of anti-HIV drugs. There are 7 HIV drug classes based on how they fight HIV.
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What Comes First HIV or AIDS?
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Treatment & Diagnosis
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- Drug Interactions
- How Effective Is ART for HIV Infection?
- Retrovir (zidovudine, ZDV, formerly called AZT)
- abacavir, Ziagen
- delavirdine (Rescriptor)
- What Are NNRTIs In Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection?
- zalcitabine
- How Do Protease Inhibitors Work in Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection?
- What Are the Single-Tablet ART Regimens for HIV Infection?
- lamivudine (3tc) (Epivir; Epivir HBV)
- What ART Drugs Prevent HIV Entry into the Human Immune Cell?
- didanosine (Videx, Videx EC)
- How Do Integrase Strand-Transfer Inhibitors Work in Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infection?
- efavirenz (Sustiva)
- Temixys (lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate)
- Dovato (dolutegravir and lamivudine)
- What Are NRTIs in Antiretroviral Therapy For HIV Infection?
- nevirapine (Viramune, Viramune XR)
- stavudine (Zerit)
- abacavir, lamivudine, zidovudine (Trizivir)
- Triumeq (abacavir, dolutegravir, and lamivudine)
- Side Effects of Combivir (lamivudine and zidovudine)
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.