Precautions and warnings

People with kidney or liver problems, or with poor bone marrow function, should be careful before starting this treatment. There is a risk of serious infections. Patients, especially obese women, who have liver disease or risk factors for liver disease, need to be cautious. Those with low body weight should not use the combination treatment.

Do not take separate tablets of lamivudine or zidovudine at the same time as the combined pill. If you need to adjust the dose of either drug, use the individual forms instead.

Doctors should regularly check your blood counts (every 2 weeks for the first 3 months in advanced disease, then monthly; every 1–3 months in early disease), liver function, mean cell volume, creatinine kinase, viral load, CD4 counts, and blood lactate levels.

Tell your doctor if you have a sore throat, nausea, vomiting, unusual bruising, or bleeding. Drink plenty of fluids (2–3 liters a day), unless your fluid intake is restricted.

Stop treatment if you develop symptoms of high lactate in your blood, metabolic or lactic acidosis, an enlarged liver, or rapidly rising liver enzymes. Cases of lactic acidosis and liver complications have occurred in pregnancy, so liver enzymes and electrolytes need to be monitored closely, especially in the third trimester.

Drug Interactions

**Zidovudine:**
Taking acyclovir or valacyclovir with zidovudine may cause more drowsiness or confusion. There is a higher risk of blood problems if zidovudine is used with ganciclovir, valganciclovir, dapsone, doxorubicin, vincristine, or vinblastine. Doxorubicin can make zidovudine less effective, while fluconazole can increase zidovudine’s side effects. Using interferon or ribavirin with zidovudine raises the risk of liver or blood issues, and ribavirin can also cause pancreatitis and lactic acidosis. Methadone can increase the effects and levels of zidovudine. Probenecid can make side effects like muscle pain, tiredness, fever, and rash more likely and stronger. Stavudine can reduce how well zidovudine works, while valproic acid can almost double zidovudine levels in the blood.

**Lamivudine:**
Combining lamivudine with interferon or ribavirin increases the risk of liver or blood problems, and ribavirin can also raise the risk of damage to the mitochondria in cells, pancreatitis, and lactic acidosis. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir may increase the effects and side effects of lamivudine. Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim can also raise lamivudine levels in the blood, leading to stronger effects and more side effects.

Mode of actions

Lamivudine: This medication is an NRTI (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor). Once it is activated inside the body, it blocks HIV's reverse transcriptase enzyme by stopping the growth of viral DNA. It acts as a substitute for cytosine, one of the building blocks of DNA.

Zidovudine: This drug is also an NRTI. It works by blocking the HIV enzyme that turns viral RNA into DNA, thereby stopping the virus from making copies of itself. Zidovudine acts as a mimic of thymidine, another DNA building block.

Dosage & Administration

Adult: The recommended oral dose for adults and adolescents is one tablet twice daily.

Pregnancy & Lactation

Although animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women, but during pregnancy, this medicine can be used just when definitely required despite potential risks.

Mothers with a newborn baby who have used this drug during the last 3 months of pregnancy may seldom create symptoms including drowsiness, muscle stiffness or shakiness, feeding or breathing troubles, constant crying. If you notice any of these symptoms of your baby's particularly during their first month, tell the doctor immediately.

This medicine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor before breastfeeding.

Pack Size & Price