Precautions and warnings

Stop using this medication if you notice a quick rise in liver enzyme levels, your liver becomes enlarged, or if you develop unexplained metabolic or lactic acidosis. Also, stop using it if you have signs, symptoms, or lab results that may indicate pancreatitis. If you have an enlarged liver or other conditions that put you at risk for liver problems, be especially careful. Patients with chronic hepatitis B should have their liver function checked regularly. Make sure to rule out HIV infection before starting hepatitis B treatment. Use with caution in people with kidney problems and during pregnancy.

Drug Interactions

High doses of trimethoprim (found in co-trimoxazole) can reduce the kidneys' ability to remove certain substances from the body. It may also weaken the antiviral effects of zalcitabine.

Mode of actions

Lamivudine is a type of medicine called a nucleoside analogue. Once inside the body, it is changed into an active form called triphosphate. In this active form, lamivudine works by blocking the enzymes that the hepatitis B virus and HIV use to make more copies of themselves.

Dosage & Administration

Oral
HIV infection
Adult: 150 mg bid or 300 mg once daily, in combination with other antiretrovirals.
Child: 3 mth-12 yr: 4 mg/kg bid. Max: 300 mg/day.

Renal impairment: Dialysis patients: Not recommended.
CrCl (ml/min)
30-49 1st dose 150 mg, then 150 mg once daily.
15-29 1st dose 150 mg, then 100 mg once daily.
5-14 1st dose 150 mg, then 50 mg once daily.
2 yr: 3 mg/kg once daily. Max: 100 mg/day.

Renal impairment: Haemodialysis patients: Dose adjustment in accordance with CrCl. Peritoneal dialysis patients: Not recommended.
CrCl (ml/min)
30-49 1st dose 100 mg, then 50 mg once daily.
15-29 1st dose 100 mg, then 25 mg once daily.
5-14 1st dose 35 mg, then 15 mg once 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