Lamivudine: functions, dosage, side effects, how to use it

What Drug Lamivudine?

What is Lamivudine for?

Lamivudine is an antiviral drug used to treat infection with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This drug is usually prescribed with other HIV / AIDS drugs to optimize treatment.

Apart from increasing the effectiveness of the drug, the combination of treatment with other antiviral drugs also aims to prevent drug resistance. Drug resistance is a condition when the drug is unable to kill the viruses / bacteria that multiply in the body.

Lamivudine belongs to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse tranciptase inhibitors or NRTIs. This drug helps boost the immune system against the HIV virus.

It should be underlined that this drug cannot cure HIV / ADIS, but only helps to contain the development of the HIV virus so that it does not multiply. By taking this medicine, you can minimize your risk of developing severe HIV complications. This drug also helps improve the patient's quality of life so that they can carry out various activities as usual.

Doctors can also use this drug to treat hepatitis B infection.

How to use Lamivudine?

Lamivudine is a strong drug. Therefore, this drug must be used carefully and under close supervision by a doctor.

You can take this drug before or after meals. When using it, make sure you swallow the drug whole. Avoid crushing, refining, or crushing the drug as this can actually reduce the effectiveness of the drug and increase side effects.

Do not attempt to increase or decrease the dose of the drug, as this can affect how it works in the body. Usually the dosage of the drug can vary from person to person. The doctor will determine the appropriate dose based on the medical condition and the patient's response to treatment. That is why, do not give this medicine to other people even though they have symptoms similar to yours.

This drug works best when the amount of drug in the body is at a constant level. Therefore, use this drug with an even period of time. To help you remember, use this medication at the same time each day.

If at any time you forget to take this medicine and the next interval for consumption is still far away, it is advisable to do so as soon as you remember. Meanwhile, if the time lag is near, ignore it and don't try to double the dose.

You may be asked to undergo medical tests, including periodic HIV testing, by your doctor. This is done to ensure that the drugs consumed are working optimally.

In principle, take this drug exactly as the doctor recommends. Follow all the instructions for using the medicine listed on the prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets carefully. Don't hesitate to ask a doctor if you don't really understand how to use it.

How is Lamivudine stored?

This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.

Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.

Lamivudine dosage

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.

What is the dosage of Lamivudine for adults?

• HIV infection: 150 mg orally 2 times a day or 300 mg orally once a day.
• Chronic Hepatitis B: 100 mg orally once daily.

What is the dosage of Lamivudine for children?

There is no definite dosage requirement for children. This medicine can be dangerous for children. It is important to understand the safety of drugs before use. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

In what dosage is Lamivudine available?

This drug is available in tablet and syrup form with a strength of 10 mg / mL.

Lamivudine side effects

What side effects can be experienced due to Lamivudine?

Just like other drugs, this drug also has the potential to cause side effects from mild to severe. Some of the most common side effects and frequently complained by patients include:

• Nausea
• Gag
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Cough
• Headache
• Sleep disturbance due to insomnia
• Muscle ache
• Body weakness, lethargy, and lack of strength (malaise)
• Runny nose

It is important to know that this drug can also cause lactic acidosis (lacticacidemia), which is high levels of lactic acid in the body, which can be fatal if not treated promptly. Lactic acidosis can start slowly and get worse over time.

Before it's too late, it's best to seek medical attention immediately if you have mild symptoms of lactic acidosis, such as:

• Unusual muscle pain
• The feet and hands often experience tingling or numbness
• Cold feet and hands
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea followed by vomiting
• The heart beats very fast
• The body is limp

You should also stop treatment and rush to the doctor if you experience serious side effects such as:

• Signs of a new infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising or unusual bleeding, loss of appetite, sore mouth.
• Severe pain in the upper abdomen that spreads to the back, nausea and vomiting, fast heartbeat.
• Nausea, upper stomach pain, urine changes color to darker, pale stools, yellowish skin or eyes.
• Hand tremors, easy sweating, difficulty sleeping (insomnia), erratic mood swings such as irritability and anxiety.
• Diarrhea, loss of weight for no apparent reason, changes in the menstrual cycle, loss of interest in sex, erectile dysfunction
• Swelling in the neck or throat (enlarged thyroid)
• Problems walking, breathing, speaking, swallowing, or moving your eyes
• Severe pain in the back, lost control of bowel movements

Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you are concerned about the side effects please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Lamivudine Drug Warnings and Cautions

What should be known before using Lamivudine?

Before using this drug, several things you need to know include:

Allergy

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies. This product may contain active ingredients that can cause severe allergic reactions or other problems.

Please ask the doctor directly for more details.

History of certain diseases

Tell your doctor or pharmacist about your actual condition. This includes if you have or are currently having diseases such as:

• Liver disease, especially hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• Pancreatitis
• Kidney illness
• Diabetes mellitus

Certain drugs

Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, non-prescription drugs, and herbal products).

This medicine should not be used to treat hepatitis B if you are taking other medicines that contain emtricitabine.

Regular health tests

To ensure that this drug is working effectively, you may need to have periodic HIV tests. If you become infected with HIV while you are using lamivudine to treat hepatitis, HIV can become resistant to antiviral drugs if not treated promptly.

On the other hand, if you have had hepatitis B before, this virus can become active or get worse after you stop using lamivudine. That's because you may need frequent liver function tests during and after using this medicine.

Please consult a doctor for more information.

Pregnant and breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant and make sure you are taking the medicines correctly to control HIV infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy.

You also should not breastfeed while you are using lamivudine to treat hepatitis B. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus can be passed to the baby in breast milk.

Is Lamivudine safe for pregnant and lactating women?

There is no adequate research on the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category C according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States, or the equivalent of the Food and Drug Administration (BPOM) in Indonesia.

The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:

• A = Not at risk,
• B = not at risk in several studies,
• C = May be risky,
• D = There is positive evidence of risk,
• X = Contraindicated,
• N = Unknown

Lamivudine can pass through breast milk and can harm the baby. You should not breastfeed while using this medicine. Women with HIV or AIDS should also not breastfeed their babies. Even if your baby is born without HIV. The reason is, the virus can still infect babies through breast milk.

Lamivudine Drug Interactions

What medicines may interact with Lamivudine?

Interactions with other drugs can affect how the drug works and increase the risk of dangerous side effects. This article does not list all possible drug interactions. Record all medicinal products you use (including prescription, non-prescription and herbal medicines) and share them with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's permission.

Some of the drugs that can interact with this drug include:

• bedaquiline
• bexarotene
• black cohosh
• brentuximab
• cannabidiol
• cladribine
• clofarabine
• cobicistat
• daclizumab
• efavirenz
• emtricitabine
• epirubicin
• idelalisib
• interferon beta-1a
• interferon beta-1b
• leflunomide
• lomitapide
• mannitol
• methotrexate
• mipomersen
• naltrexone
• orlistat
• peginterferon beta-1a
• pexidartinib
• ribavirin
• sorbitol
• tafamidis
• teriflunomide
• thioguanine
• trabectedin
• trimethoprim
• zalcitabine

Can food or alcohol interact with Lamivudine?

Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.

What health conditions may interact with Lamivudine?

Any other health conditions you have can affect the use of this drug. Always tell your doctor if you have other health problems, especially:

• Diabetes.
• Kidney illness
• Liver disease
• Pancreatitis (inflammation or swelling of the pancreas)

Lamivudine overdose

What should I do in an emergency or overdose?

In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (119) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.