On 17'th November 1995, Lamivudine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in order to use with the Zidovudine (AZT) and again in 2002 as a once-a-day dosed medication.
This medication is on the WHO's (World Health Organization's) List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.
Lamivudine is an analogue of cytidine. It has the potential to inhibit both types HIV-1 and HIV-2 reverse transcriptase and also the reverse transcriptase of hepatitis B virus. This drug is phosphorylated to the active metabolites that work in the competing for incorporation into viral DNA. They help in order to inhibit the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase enzyme competitively and works as a chain terminator of DNA synthesis. Less quantity of 3'-OH groups in the nucleoside analogue (incorporated) protects as well as prevents the formation of 5' to 3' phosphodiester linkage essential for DNA chain elongation, and therefore, the viral DNA growth is terminated. When this drug is taken by mouth it is rapidly absorbed with the bio-availability.
This antiretroviral commonly known as 3TC. It is specified in order to prevent as well as treat HIV/AIDS and also recommended for treating the chronic HBV (hepatitis B) virus when other options are not possible. It has been shown to be quite effective against HIV-1 and also HIV-2. It is typically used in combination with other antiretrovirals such as Zidovudine and Abacavir.
For adults the recommended dose should be as Lamivudine 300mg daily. It can be also taken as Lamivudine 150 mg twice daily. Breastfeeding is not recommended while on this antiretroviral.
The effectiveness and safety of this ARV agent have not been established in children under 3 months of age.
The concentrations of this drug are available as follows:
- Lamivudine 150 mg Tablet
- Lamivudine 300 mg Tablet
Patients with Lamivudine tablets may experienced some minor side effects which as follows:
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Diarrhea
- Cough and Nasal Congestion
The following combination of Lamivudine shouldn't be prescribed to such patients who are taking emtricitabine.
- Lamivudine/Zidovudine
- Abacavir/Lamivudine
- Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine
- Lamivudine is available in fixed-dose combinations with other HIV drugs which are as follows:
- Lamivudine/Zidovudine
- Abacavir/Lamivudine
- Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine
Lamivudine tablets are used widely because the medication is well tolerated. It can be taken with or without food. It is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor which works by blocking the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase and HBV (hepatitis B virus) polymerase.
Read:- Abacavir sulfate guidelines
