FAQ
1. What is Lamivudine (Epivir) and what is it used for?
Lamivudine is a medical drug sold under the name Epivir which belongs to a class of medication called NRTI(Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors). This medicine is used to treat or prevent HIV(Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and AIDS(Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) by reducing the amount of HIV and hepatitis B in the blood so that the immune system can work better.
2. When and how to use Lamivudine?
Lamivudine is available to us in a form of pill that must be taken by mouth with or without food as per your doctor's prescription. It is usually taken once or twice a day daily. The dosage and length of the treatment is based on your medical condition and its response to the treatment. For children, it is also based on their body weight. Swallow the tablet whole rather than chewing or crushing it in your mouth as it may release all the drug in your mouth which increases the risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you with a low dose which will increase gradually. Take the medicine daily at the same time to get the most benefits from it. Do not increase your dose or take it more often than prescribed as this may also increase the risk of side effects without any improvement in your condition. Discuss all the other medicines that you might be taking along with Lamivudine for the same or different reasons. Follow the medical prescription carefully and inform your doctor in case of any exception or confusion.
3. What are the side effects of Lamivudine?
Common side effects observed while medicating with Lamivudine are vomiting, nausea, headache, loss of appetite or trouble sleeping may occur. Inform your doctor if these conditions persist or get worse. There are some serious side effects involved with this medicine which must be informed to the doctor right away if observed such as mental/mood changes (depression), stomach/back pain with nausea, easy bleeding/bruising, signs of anemia(unusual tiredness, rapid heartbeat, pale/bluish skin) etc. There are also some severe allergic reaction involved with this medicine which require immediate medical attention if observed such as unexplained weight loss, severe tiredness, muscle aches/weakness that doesn't go away, headache that are severe or don't go away, joint pain, numbness/tingling of the hands/feet/arms/legs, vision changes, signs of infection (such as fever, chills, swollen lymph nodes, trouble sleeping, non-healing skin sores), nervousness, heat intolerance, fast/pounding/irregular heartbeat, unusual growth in the neck/thyroid known as a goiter, swallowing/moving your eyes, drooping face, paralysis, trouble speaking, rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), seizures, severe dizziness, symptoms of liver problems (nausea/vomiting that doesn't stop, loss of appetite, yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine), symptoms of lactic acidosis (deep/rapid breathing, drowsiness, nausea/vomiting) etc.
4. Is Lamivudine an effective medication?
Lamivudine is a prescribed medicine that is used to treat HIV and AIDS. According to a 4 week course study, Lamivudine was found to be an effective and safe medicine in suppression of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier in Chinese patients. Although the suppression was 90% and higher but reversible. There are no long term Lamivudine administration studies that prove the prolonged suppression of the same disease.
5. How long does Lamivudine take to work?
According to a general course schedule, patient may stop using Lamivudine for a temporary period of 1 week and later for 2,4, and 8 weeks could be monitored for 12 week for different parameters such as HBV DNA level, aminotransferase level and CD4+ and CD8+ T cell response.
6. Which Lamivudine combination is better?
According to antiretroviral therapy in adults dealing with HIV infection, the combination of Lamivudine and zidovudine has proven to has greater antiviral activity which also involves better tolerable rate than the combination of indinavir, lamivudine and zidovudine together.
7. What precautions must be taken before medicating with Lamivudine?
Before the onset of Lamivudine medication, you must inform your doctor regarding certain conditions such as allergies related to it, or any other allergies as these products may contain some ingredient that causes an allergic reaction inside your body. Tell your doctor if you have any medical history related to liver disease, kidney problems, alcohol use, pancreatitis, etc. Inform your doctor regarding all the products you use including herbal, prescribed, and non-prescribed medicine before undergoing any surgery. Use of alcohol and marijuana will make you dizzier than its usual effect which must be avoided.
8. Can a pregnant woman use Lamivudine?
Lamivudine is a kind of medicine that may reduce the risk of infection getting passed on to the unborn child. Discuss all the risks and benefits with your doctor before medicating with Lamivudine during pregnancy.
9. Can you take Lamivudine with an antibiotic?
Lamivudine can be used as a combination with an antibiotic agent to treat various bacterial infections including traveler's diarrhea, urinary tract infections, etc. Before using the combination, consult with your doctor regarding the interaction between these drugs.
