Combivir

Brand name: Combivir
Generic name: Lamivudine

What is the most important information I should know about Combivir?

• Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have kidney disease, liver disease, a pancreas disorder, or problems with your muscles.
• Combivir can lower the blood cells in your body that help you fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
• Call your doctor at once if you have liver problems while you are using Combivir. Symptoms to watch for include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, low fever, lost appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking Combivir, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver at regular visits for several months after you stop using this medication. Do not miss any scheduled visits.
• Swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis) may occur during treatment, especially in children using Combivir. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms of pancreatitis: sudden and severe pain in the upper middle or left side of your stomach, nausea and/ or vomiting, fever, chills, rapid pulse, or stomach pain that gets worse after eating or when lying down flat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have muscle pain or weakness, numbness or tingling in any part of your body, and nausea with vomiting. These could be signs of lactic acidosis.

What is Combivir?

• Combivir 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.
• Combivir are used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). This medication is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
• Combivir may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Combivir?

• Before taking Combivir, tell your doctor if you have:
  • kidney disease;
  • liver disease;
  • pancreatitis; or
  • bone marrow suppression.
• If you have any of the conditions listed above, you may not be able to use Combivir or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
• If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking this medication, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver at regular visits for several months after you stop using Combivir. Do not miss any scheduled visits.
• Combivir is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known if it will be harmful to an unborn baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. It is very important to treat HIV/ AIDS during pregnancy to reduce the risk of infecting the baby. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.
• It is not known whether Combivir passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Combivir?

• Take Combivir exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not take Combivir for longer than your doctor has prescribed.
• Combivir can be taken with or without food.
• Treatment of HIV/ AIDS almost always requires using many medicines together. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.
• Combivir can lower the blood cells in your body that help you fight infections. This can make it easier for you to bleed from an injury or get sick from being around others who are ill. To be sure your blood cells do not get too low, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. It is important that you not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.
• Store Combivir at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
• Symptoms of a Combivir overdose may include nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and seizures.

What should I avoid while taking Combivir?

• Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing needles, razors, or toothbrushes. Taking this medication will not keep you from passing HIV to other people. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
• Avoid alcohol while taking Combivir. Alcohol may increase the risk of damage to the pancreas and/ or liver.

What are the possible side effects of Combivir?

• Stop using this medication and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have any problems with your liver while you are using lamivudine. Symptoms to watch for include stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, low fever, lost appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
• Swelling of the pancreas (pancreatitis) may occur during treatment with Combivir. Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these symptoms of pancreatitis: sudden and severe pain in the upper middle or left side of your stomach, nausea and/ or vomiting, fever, chills, rapid pulse, or stomach pain that gets worse after eating or when lying down flat.
• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these other serious side effects:
  • lactic acidosis — muscle pain or weakness, numb or tingly feeling, and nausea with vomiting;
  • signs of a new infection — fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
  • easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, pale skin;
  • white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips.
• Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur. Talk with your doctor if you have any of these side effects:
  • changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk);
  • sleep problems (insomnia), strange dreams;
  • headache, dizziness; or
  • a runny or stuffy nose.
• Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What other drugs will affect Combivir?

• Before taking Combivir, tell your doctor if you are also using:
  • cancer treatments;
  • stavudine (Zerit);
  • doxorubicin (Adriamycin);
  • zalcitabine (Hivid);
  • ganciclovir (Cytovene);
  • interferon-alfa (Roferon, Intron, Rebetron);
  • trimethoprim (Bactrim, Septra);
  • ribavirin (Rebetol, Ribasphere, Copegus Virazole); or
  • other forms of lamivudine or zidovudine (such as Epivir, Epzicom, Retrovir, Trizivir).
• There may be other drugs that can affect Combivir. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.