Lamivudine/zidovudine

Lamivudine/zidovudine
Combination of
LamivudineNucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor
ZidovudineNucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Clinical data
Trade namesCombivir
AHFS/Drugs.comProfessional Drug Facts
MedlinePlusa601066
License data
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
Routes of
administration
By mouth
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • UK: POM (Prescription only)
  • US: ℞-only
  • EU: Rx-only
  • In general: ℞ (Prescription only)
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
ChemSpider
KEGG
NIAID ChemDB
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
  (verify)

Lamivudine/zidovudine, sold under the brand name Combivir among others, is a fixed-dose combination antiretroviral medication used to treat HIV/AIDS.[1] It contains two antiretroviral medications, lamivudine and zidovudine.[1] It is used together with other antiretrovirals.[1] It is taken by mouth twice a day.[1][2]

Common side effects include headache, feeling tired, nausea, diarrhea, and fever.[2] Severe side effects may include bone marrow suppression, muscle damage, worsening of hepatitis B if previously infected, high blood lactate and liver enlargement.[1][3] It may be part of a recommended treatment during pregnancy.[1] The medications are both of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class.[1] They work by blocking the action of the enzyme, reverse transcriptase, that the virus requires to reproduce.[2]

Lamivudine/zidovudine was approved for medical use in the United States in 1997, and in the European Union in 1998.[2][4] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[5] It is available as a generic medication.[3]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 157, 161. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
  2. ^ a b c d "Combivir- lamivudine and zidovudine tablet, film coated". DailyMed. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b Hamilton, Richart (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 59. ISBN 9781284057560.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Combivir EPAR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.