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Lamivudine: Medications
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Lamivudine and zidovudine are antiviral medications. They are in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) medicines called reverse transcriptase inhibitors. This medication helps keep the HIV virus from reproducing in the body.
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Lamivudine stops HIV from replicating by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This enzyme is critical for translating the genetic information of the virus (RNA) into the genetic information of the cell (DNA). The virus cannot take over the cell's machinery without the function of the reverse transcriptase enzyme. Thus, lamivudine may help lower viral load and increase CD4 count. Lamivudine is proven to work well only when taken in combination with other anti-HIV medications.
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Lamivudine, when used alone or in combination with other antiviral medications, can cause serious damage to the liver and a condition called lactic acidosis. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately: upset stomach, loss of appetite, excessive tiredness, weakness, dark yellow or brown urine, unusual bleeding or bruising, flu-like symptoms, yellowing of the skin or eyes, and pain in the upper right part of your stomach. Keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. Your doctor will order certain lab tests to check your response to lamivudine.
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Lamivudine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on November 17, 1995 for use with zidovudine (AZT) and again in 2002 as a once-a-day dosed medication. The fifth antiretroviral drug on the market, it was the last NRTI for three years while the approval process switched to protease inhibitors. According to the manufacturer's 2004 annual report, its patent will expire in the United States in 2010 and in Europe in 2011.
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Lamivudine is used in combination with zidovudine to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is ... used alone or in combination with peginterferon to treat hepatitis B. Lamivudine is not a cure and may not decrease the number of HIV-related illnesses or hepatitis B cases. Lamivudine does not prevent the spread of HIV or hepatitis B to other people. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
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Lamivudine (Epivir) is used in combination with other medications to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Lamivudine is not a cure and may not decrease the number of HIV-related illnesses. Lamivudine does not prevent the spread of HIV to other people. Lamivudine (Epivir-HBV) is used to treat hepatitis B infection. Lamivudine is in a class of medications called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It works by stopping the spread of the HIV and hepatitis B viruses.
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