Epivir (laminuvide) Coupons, Discounts & Cost
Epivir (laminuvide) is a selective inhibitor of HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication. One way to save money on the Epivir (laminuvide) retail cost regardless of income and insurance status is to use Epivir coupons or discount cards from RXCoupons. Use our Laminuvide coupons at your online pharmacy and receive up to 75% off the sale price each time you refill your prescription.
Learn about indications for Epivir (laminuvide)
Epivir (laminuvide) is a selective inhibitor of HIV-1 and HIV-2 replication. It is used in the treatment for HIV as part of combination treatment of adults and children. Lamivudine is also active against HIV strains resistant to zidovudine.
Lamivudine does not affect DNA metabolism and has no significant effect on the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA in mammalian cells.
Lamivudine is widely used as a component of combination antiretroviral therapy in combination with other drugs (protease inhibitors, non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors). Combination ARV therapy (including lamivudine) is effective against strains of HIV in patients who have not previously received antiretroviral drugs.
Precautionary measures to take with Epivir (laminuvide)
Epivir (laminuvide) contraindications: - Hypersensitivity to lamivudine or to any other component of the drug. - Patients up to 3 months.
Epivir should be used with caution in patients with renal insufficiency, pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathy, during pregnancy and lactation.
Lamivudine crosses the placenta. Therefore, it should be used during pregnancy only if the expected benefits outweigh the risks to the fetus. There are some reports of rare cases of seizures and other neurological disorders (increased muscle tone) in newborns and infants whose mothers took Epivir during pregnancy.
HIV-infected patients should avoid breastfeeding to prevent HIV transmission to the child. Breastfeeding is contraindicated since lamivudine may penetrate into breast milk.
Epivir (laminuvide) dosage and administration
The drug should be prescribed by a specialist who has the necessary skills to be your HIV doctor.
The drug is used regardless of the meal.
Adults, adolescents and children weighing at least 25 kg: the recommended daily dose of lamivudine is 300 mg, which can be divided into 2 doses of 150 mg.
Special groups: - Children older than 3 months and weighing less than 25 kg: the recommended dose is 4 mg/kg 2 times per day, or 8 mg/kg one time a day. The maximum daily dose is 300 mg. - Elderly patients: pay special attention to this category of patients (due to age-related decline in renal function). - Patients with impaired renal function must use lower doses of the drug.
How to recognize Epivir (laminuvide) side effects
The following adverse reactions were observed: Hematopoiesis: neutropenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia. Metabolism: lactic acidosis. Nervous system: headache, insomnia, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy. Gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, pain in the upper abdomen and abdominal cramping, diarrhea, pancreatitis. Hepatobiliary system: hepatitis. Skin disorders: rash, alopecia, angioedema. Musculoskeletal system: arthralgia, muscle disorders, rhabdomyolysis. Respiratory system: cough, nasal congestion. Other disorders: fatigue, fever, metabolic disorders such as hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia and hyperlactatemia.
Learn about Epivir (laminuvide) interaction
Lamivudine is excreted from the body mainly by active tubular secretion. Thus, lamivudine may interact with drugs that have the same mechanism of excretion.
Zidovudine has no effect on the pharmacokinetics of lamivudine.
The combined use of lamivudine with co-trimoxazole (used for the treatment of pneumonia and toxoplasmosis) should be avoided.
It is not recommended to take the drug in combination with zalcitabine.
Lamivudine may inhibit the intracellular phosphorylation of emtricitabine.
It is necessary to avoid using lamivudine and cladribine.
Epivir (laminuvide) special instructions
Lamivudine monotherapy is not recommended.
Treatment with antiretroviral drugs, including Epivir, does not prevent the risk of transmission of HIV to other people through sexual contact or blood.
Patients taking lamivudine and other antiretroviral drugs may suffer from opportunistic infections and other complications of HIV infection. Thus, such patients should be under close supervision.
Patients with liver dysfunction (including chronic hepatitis) should take Epivir under close medical supervision. Discontinuation of treatment is recommended in case of severe deterioration in liver function in these patients.