Lamivudine

Lamivudine is used for the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The active ingredient can strengthen the immune system of HIV-infected people and fight the immune deficiency disease AIDS, or delay its onset. He can not cure the infection, but extend life expectancy and improve the quality of life.

Is this ingredient for what purposes?

  • strengthen the body’s immune system in HIV infection
  • Inhibit proliferation of HIV
  • Reduce number of HI viruses in the blood
  • Prevent AIDS
  • Fight AIDS
  • In chronic hepatitis B inhibit virus propagation

Prevent cirrhosis of the liver in chronic hepatitis B infection.

Drug Price per 10 mg of the active substance Dosage of the active substance Packungs-size and dosage form Cheapest price per Pack
Epivir 150 mg film tablets 0,34 EUR 150 mg per film Tablet 60 Film tablets Price 302,58 EUR (10,00 EUR), (0,00 EUR shipping) price comparison
Epivir 300 mg film tablets 0,34 EUR 300 mg per film Tablet 30 Film tablets Price 302,58 EUR (10,00 EUR), (0,00 EUR shipping) price comparison

What drugs include lamivudine

The following table shows all covered drugs, lamivudine is included in which. In the last column, you find the links to the available fields of application where the respective drugs can be used.

So does lamivudine

Learn more about the applications and the action of lamivudine below. Read also the information about the reverse-transcriptase inhibitor, which is the active ingredient of lamivudine drug group.

Application of the active substance: lamivudine

Lamivudine is used for the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The active ingredient can strengthen the immune system of HIV-infected people and fight the immune deficiency disease AIDS, or delay its onset. He can not cure the infection, but extend life expectancy and improve the quality of life.

In addition, people can be treated with a chronic inflammation of the liver due to a hepatitis B infection with lamivudine. The drug reduces the risk of developing cirrhosis, sometimes the infection heals even out. Following a liver transplantation in patients with chronic hepatitis B, lamivudine can reduce the risk that the new organ will in turn get infected with existing remaining in the body hepatitis B virus (HBV).

Following applications of lamivudine, in-depth information is available:

  • AIDS

Effect of lamivudine

Lamivudine is a nukleosidischer reverse transcriptase (NRTI). It is a drug precursor (prodrug) which is effective even against the viruses, but only is converted in the body to the actual active substance. This inhibits the enzyme reverse transcriptase, and suppresses the proliferation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in this way. He can reduce the viral load (number of viruses in the blood), thus the number of certain white blood cells (CD4-positive T-lymphocytes) increases and strengthens the immune system of the body.

Because HIV is very wandlungs-and adaptable, the virus becomes resistant (resistant) fast against a single substance. Therefore HIV infection fighting always at the same time in the context of a combination therapy with multiple active ingredients (usually three).

Also the hepatitis B virus (HBV) requires the enzyme reverse transcriptase for its reproduction. Therefore, administration of lamivudine can reduce the number of these viruses and prevent damage to the liver.

On combating chronic hepatitis B, the active ingredient comes alone (monotherapy) and at lower doses than in the case of HIV infection for use.

Warnings and precautions

  • Both HIV and hepatitis B infected, handled with virus resistant means, can continue to transfer viruses to other people.
  • During treatment requires regular monitoring of liver function. With hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, the strength of the virus reproduction is in addition to observe.
  • During the treatment, both female and male patients should take contraceptive measures.
  • The active ingredient can restrict responsiveness, so that the ability to actively participate on the road and use machines is affected.
  • Remedy ingredients sometimes trigger allergic reactions. Should you perceive signs of an allergic reaction, so you tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

What interactions shows lamivudine?

It is important to note that the interactions can be different depending on the pharmaceutical form of a drug (for example, Tablet, syringe, ointment).

In particular with renal dysfunction, coadministration of sulfonamides and trimethoprim can lead to a strengthening of effect of lamivudine. It is possible to treat with low doses of co-trimoxazol to prevent a pneumonia due to Pneumocystis carinii (in AIDS patients). High-dose treatment with co-trimoxazol should be avoided but especially in patients with impaired renal function.

A combination therapy of lamivudine and transcriptase zalcitabine is not recommended, because its effect is weakened.

The kidney-damaging effect of the Herpesmittel of ganciclovir and foscarnet can be strengthened by lamivudine.

Contra-indications

The following information about contra-indications for the purposes of lamivudine in General, pregnancy & lactation, and in children. It is important to note that the contra-indications can be different depending on the pharmaceutical form of a drug (for example, Tablet, syringe, ointment).

When lamivudine cannot use?

The active ingredient may be with hypersensitivity to lamivudine not used.

Medical care should be taken in a restricted kidney function, here a dosage adjustment may be necessary.

Only after a careful balance of benefit and risk by the physician the drug for HIV-infected individuals is to apply, who suffer from tingling, numbness or pain in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy). People with liver disease, liver inflammation (hepatitis) or enlarged liver (hepatomegaly) must be carefully monitored.

The treatment of HIV-infected patients who are infected with the hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus, additional risks and should be done only under the supervision of specially trained doctors.

What must you consider when pregnancy and breast-feeding?

Lamivudine should be used during pregnancy only after careful weighing of benefit and risk by the physician. In animal studies, the drug showed an injurious effect on the unborn child. To what extent these results to humans are transferable, is unknown, but should lamivudine are not used in the first three months of pregnancy. The care of pregnant women with HIV infection or hepatitis B infection should be done only by experienced doctors.

HIV infected women should breastfeed her newborn child in no case since the virus with the breast milk can be transferred to the child.

Lamivudine is transferred into breast milk. Hepatitis B infected women who are treated with the active substance, should not breastfeed her child.

What is taken into account in children?

The absence to apply for infants and newborns no sufficient findings, lamivudine should be in children under three months not used. In older children, the dose according to body weight, as well as depending on the course of HIV infection or hepatitis B infection must be customized. A careful medical surveillance is required.

What side effects can lamivudine have?

Below, you will learn the most important thing possible, well-known side effects of lamivudine. These side effects should not occur, but can. Because everyone reacts differently to medications. Please also note that the side effects in type and frequency can vary depending on the pharmaceutical form of a drug (for example, Tablet, syringe, ointment).

Common side effects: headache, fatigue, limited performance, insomnia, increased susceptibility to infections, fever, chills, enlarged lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms, discomfort, indigestion, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea.

Uncommon side effects: infections of the respiratory tract (for example, tonsillitis, bronchitis, pneumonia), loss of appetite, weight loss, constipation, rash, hives, General itching of the skin.

Rare side effects: hepatitis, disorders of the liver, propagation of certain liver enzymes in the blood, increase of the enzyme amylase in blood, hair loss, muscle and joint pain, muscle spasms, decomposition of muscle tissue of rhabdomyolysis.

Specialties: Errors of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow, coupled with a lack of red, white blood cells and platelets (Erythroblastopenie, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia), as well as an enlargement of the mammary gland used for hepatitis B-infected individuals very rarely, for HIV-infected people but often before.

The following side effects occur almost exclusively in HIV-infected patients and usually as part of a combination therapy with other reverse Transkriptasehemmern:

Occasionally there is tingling, numbness or pain in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy). Also occasionally observed lipid metabolism disorders and a redistribution of body fat (lipodystrophy). The latter occurs as a loss of subcutaneous fatty tissue on the face and body, as well as increased fat deposition in the neck and the abdomen in appearance. The risk of these side effects is increasing with the age of the patient and the duration of treatment.

In rare cases, there is a strong increase of lactic acid levels in the blood (lactic acidosis); This disease can be fatal in some cases. It is often accompanied by an enlargement of the liver. Severe abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting, diarrhea and significant weight loss may be the first signs of lactic acidosis. Also a pancreatitis is possible. The treatment should be terminated with a strong and rapid increase of lactic acid levels in the blood. Reverse transcriptase like lamivudine can damage certain organelles of cells, the so-called mitochondrial DNA. Malfunction of mitochondria can lead to errors of blood formation, metabolic disorders, increased blood pressure, changes in personality and behavior and seizures.

A further possible side effect is insulin a reduced responsiveness of the body cells to the hormone regulating blood sugar levels. As a result, the sugar in the blood can be elevated. Especially at the beginning of the treatment occurs in AIDS patients occasionally to a deterioration of the disease because the strengthened immune system responds to existing in the body of pathogens (bacteria, viruses, fungi and other parasites). This is called a reactivation immune syndrome. The patient however responds to treatment with the transcriptase, symptoms go back significantly after a few weeks.

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