LAMIVUDINE

(la MIV yoo deen) Brand: Epivir, Epivir HBV

What is the most significant information I must know about lamivudine?

• You must not take lamivudine if you are allergic to it.

• The Epivir brand of lamivudine (for treating HIV) must not be taken together with any HIV combination medication that contains lamivudine or emtricitabine. This includes Atripla, Combivir, Complera, Emtriva, Epzicom, Trizivir, and Truvada.

• The Epivir-HBV brand of lamivudine (for treating hepatitis B) must not be taken together with any another medicine that contains lamivudine, which includes Combivir, Epivir, Epzicom, and Trizivir.

• Till taking lamivudine, speak your doctor if you have kidney malady, liver malady, a history of pancreatitis, or if you have used a medication similar to lamivudine in the past, such as abacavir (Ziagen), didanosine (Videx), emtricitabine (Atripla, Complera, Emtriva, Truvada), stavudine (Zerit), tenofovir (Viread), zalcitabine (Hivid), or zidovudine (Retrovir).

• Some people develop lactic acidosis while taking lamivudine. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Get abnormal medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cool feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, quick or uneven heart course, dizziness, or feeling very weak or weary.

• If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking this medicine, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for different months after you stop using lamivudine. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Lamivudine can also reason severe or life-threatening effects on your liver or pancreas. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms while taking lamivudine: severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, quick heart course, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Epivir tablets and liquid contain a higher doze of lamivudine than Epivir-HBV. Every time you get a refill of this medicine, be certain you have received the correct brand to treat your condition.

What is lamivudine?

• Lamivudine is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus cells from multiplying in your body.

• Epivir is for treating HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Epivir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

• Epivir-HBV is for treating hepatitis B. Epivir-HBV must not be used in people who are infected with both hepatitis B and HIV.

• Lamivudine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking lamivudine?

• You must not take lamivudine if you are allergic to it.

• The Epivir brand of lamivudine (for treating HIV) must not be taken together with any HIV combination medication that contains lamivudine or emtricitabine. This includes:

· Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir);

· Combivir (lamivudine and zidovudine);

· Complera (rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir);

· Emtriva (emtricitabine);

· Epzicom (abacavir and lamivudine);

· Trizivir (abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine); and

· Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir).

• The Epivir-HBV brand of lamivudine (for treating hepatitis B) must not be taken together with any another medicine that contains lamivudine, which includes:

· Combivir (lamivudine and zidovudine);

· Epivir (lamivudine) for treating HIV;

· Epzicom (abacavir and lamivudine); and

· Trizivir (abacavir, lamivudine, and zidovudine).

• To create certain you can safely take lamivudine, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· liver malady (especially hepatitis B if you also have HIV);

· kidney disease;

· a history of pancreatitis; or

· if you have used a medication similar to lamivudine in the past, such as abacavir (Ziagen), didanosine (Videx), emtricitabine (Atripla, Complera, Emtriva, Truvada), stavudine (Zerit), tenofovir (Viread), zalcitabine (Hivid), or zidovudine (Retrovir).

• Some people develop a life-threatening condition called lactic acidosis while taking lamivudine. You may be more likely to develop lactic acidosis if you are overweight or have liver malady, if you are a woman, or if you have taken HIV or AIDS medications for a long time. Conversation with your doctor about your individual risk.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether lamivudine will harm an unborn child. HIV can be passed to your child if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

• Lamivudine can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using lamivudine to treat hepatitis B. Women with HIV or AIDS must not breast feed a child. Even if your child is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the child in your breast milk.

• If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to estimate any effects of lamivudine on the baby.

• If you have diabetes, you must know that the liquid forms of lamivudine contain 3 to 4 grams of sucrose (sugar) for dose.

How must I take lamivudine?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. You must not take Epivir (for treating HIV) together with Epivir-HBV (for treating hepatitis B).

• Lamivudine can be taken with or without food.

• You may need to interrupt an Epivir tablet in half when giving this medicine to a baby for HIV. Call your doctor if the baby has any trouble swallowing the tablet.

• Measure liquid medication with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• The Epivir brand contains a higher doze of lamivudine than Epivir-HBV brand. Epivir is for treating HIV and Epivir-HBV is for treating hepatitis B. Each time you get a refill of this medicine, be certain you have received the correct brand to treat your condition.

• If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking this medicine, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for different months after you stop using lamivudine. Visit your doctor regularly.

• To be certain this medication is helping your condition and is not causing deleterious effects, your blood will need to be tested often. Your liver and kidney function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

• HIV/AIDS is generally treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medicine manual or patient instructions provided with every medicine. Do not change your doses or medicine schedule without your doctor's advice. Each face with HIV or AIDS must stay under the care of a doctor.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not let the liquid form of this medication to freeze. Hold the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking lamivudine?

• Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing HIV to another people. Avoid having unprotected sex or sharing razors or toothbrushes. Conversation with your doctor about safety ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medication needles is never safety, even for a healthy person.

What are the possible side effects of lamivudine?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• This medicine may reason lactic acidosis (a build-up of lactic acid in the body, which can be fatal). Lactic acidosis can start slowly and get worse over time. Get abnormal medical help if you have even mild symptoms of lactic acidosis, such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cool feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, quick or uneven heart course, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.

• Stop using lamivudine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· signs of a new infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, light bruising or unusual bleeding, loss of appetite, mouth sores;

· severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, quick heart rate;

· nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· heighten sweating, tremors in your hands, anxiety, feeling irritable, sleep problems (insomnia);

· diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex;

· swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid);

· problems with walking, breathing, speech, swallowing, or eye movement; or

· severe lower back pain, loss of bladder or bowel control.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· cough;

· headache;

· mild weary feeling;

· runny or stuffy nose;

· mild diarrhea; or

· changes in the shape or location of body thick (especially in your arms, legs, person, neck, breasts, and trunk).

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect lamivudine?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially interferons (Alferon, Avonex, Betaseron, Extavia, Intron, Rebetron, Rebif, and others).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with lamivudine. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about lamivudine.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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