Combivir (Lamivudine/Zidovudine) for HIV

Overview
Combivir is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as treatment for HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral medications. Combivir is a combination drug composed of Lamivudine and Zidovudine, which are also known respectively by the abbreviations 3TC and ZDV. Lamivudine and Zidovudine are both antiretroviral medications of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. These drugs are believed to work by preventing HIV from replicating in cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Combivir is taken twice daily. Combivir comes in tablet form.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Combivir lists common side effects including headache, fatigue, malaise, cough, nausea, diarrhea, nasal symptoms, and changes in the shape or location of body fat. Rare but serious side effects listed for Combivir include blood disorders, pancreatitis, lactic acidosis (a metabolic disorder), hepatomegaly (enlarged liver) with steatosis (fatty degeneration), other liver problems, severe exacerbation of Hepatitis B, and immune reconstitution syndrome.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Combivir highlights of prescribing information – ViiV Healthcare

Overview of HIV Treatments – AIDS.gov