Combivir and/or Equivalents

Combivir (Lamivudine/Zidovudine)

Combivir Description

Combivir is a drug that contains two drugs namely lamivudine and zidovudine to treat HIV. Both of these drugs which are a part of Combivir are nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). Combivir is a medication that prevents the HIV from duplicating itself and multiplying in your body. Hence the body HIV count decreases and because of this CD4 cells which help your body fight against infections increase. Combivir is generally prescribed in combination with other HIV drugs to treat patients. This is because the HIV virus becomes resistant to drugs very easily and hence a combination of medications is required for patients with HIV. Combivir tablets contain 150 mg of lamivudine and 300 mg of zidovudine. Other constituents of this drug include polyethylene glycol, colloidal silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, polysorbate 80, microcrystalline cellulose, titanium dioxide and sodium starch glycolate.

Conditions Treated by Combivir

Doctors prescribe Combivir for patients who are HIV positive because this medicine helps prevent the spread of infection. This medicine is also given to patients with illnesses like AIDS - ARC is a related complex.

Combivir Dosage Information

a.) Typical dosage recommendations

Doctors will generally recommend patients take one tablet of Combivir twice in a day. The medicine should be taken along with some water. It is very important that you must never crush or break the tablet. This will not help the drug achieve its intended action. It is to be swallowed as a whole. You can take Combivir with or without meals.

b.) Missing a dose

HIV drugs must always be taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Missing a dose can lead to a decrease in the amount of the medicine in your blood and this can lead to virus multiplication in your body. Try not to miss a dose. However, if you do miss a dose, take the medicine as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue taking your medicine as per schedule. Never take extra medicine to make up for the missed dose.

c.) Overdosing

In case you have taken extra doses of Combivir, immediately contact your healthcare provider. You may also contact the local poison control center or emergency center for help. You must see your doctor even if you have no symptoms of illness or discomfort.

Combivir Warnings

You must never share Combivir with anyone else who may be having the same symptoms. It is very harmful to take this drug without a doctor’s prescription. You should never stop taking the medicine or change your dose without consulting your doctor. Before you start taking the medicine, you should inform your healthcare provider if you are allergic to lamivudine or zidovudine or any other components of the drug. Allergic reactions may worsen your condition or cause some other health problems. Pregnant female patients must discuss with their doctor if they can continue taking this medicine during pregnancy. Nursing mothers should also talk to their doctors before they start taking Combivir. If you are taking Combivir, this will not prevent you from passing on the HIV virus to your partner during sexual intercourse. Hence an effective barrier method must be used during any sexual activity. Also sharing of razors etc with the patient must be avoided. Patients who have a very low red blood cell count or a very low white blood cell count must not take this medicine. Hence it is very important to discuss your medical history with your healthcare provider before you start taking this medicine. Only your doctor can tell you whether taking Combivir will benefit you or not. The doctor will require you to undergo regular blood tests to see if Combivir is helping your body combat HIV. You must follow all instructions as given by your doctor. Since your immune system is weak when you are having an HIV infection, you must avoid being near individuals who are sick or who have infections. This is because the infection can get passed on to you very easily. You must consult your doctor immediately if you show any signs and symptoms of infection.

Combivir Side Effects

Side-effects may start as soon as you start taking Combivir but are known to reduce gradually and go away once the body is used to taking the medicine. Combivir has been known to be associated with the following side effects:

• Wheezing
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea
• Depression
• Backaches
• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Nervousness
• Enlarged glands
• Giddiness
• Sudden weight loss
• Constipation
• Seizures
• Spasms
• Fainting
• Muscle aches
• Pancreas inflammation
• Diarrhea
• Hay fever
• Mental clarity
• Flu-like fever and other symptoms
• Abdominal pain
• Problems walking
• Chest pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Jaundice like symptoms
• Ulcers in the mouth
• Severe headaches
• Enlargement of fatty liver
• Sore throat
• Pancreatitis
• Extreme tiredness

If you find any worsening of your condition or the severity of the side-effect increases, you must contact your healthcare provider. It is very important to seek medical attention to avoid any serious health problems.

Combivir Drug Interactions

Drug interactions may be very dangerous because not only does the effectiveness of the drugs you are taking decrease, but it may also lead to generation of a third component that may be harmful to the body. Hence you should always inform your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, over-the-counter drugs, vitamin supplements, protein pills or shakes, herbal pills, diet or weight loss supplements etc. Some of the drugs that can interact with Combivir include:

• Ganciclovir (cytovene)
• Lamivudine
• Ribavarin (Ribetron)
• Zalcitabine
• Sukfa drugs such as Bactrim or Septra
• Zidovudine
• Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX)

You should also inform your doctor if you consume alcohol or take drugs. You must never start a new medicine without consulting your doctor. Your healthcare provider is the best person to tell you if the drugs you are consuming are safe and whether they affect each other or not. It is not always necessary that you may have to stop taking one drug because you are taking another. Your doctor can suggest alternate drugs that will acheive the same effect or can help you by adjusting doses of the drugs or by suggesting you keep a gap between taking the two drugs so that they will not interact with one another.

If you have any questions about buying discount Combivir online or any other prescription products you can contact our team of professional Patient Service Representatives or one of our pharmacists 24-7 by calling 1-800-226-3784.

Notice: The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Combivir and/or Equivalents warnings, side-effects and general information