Medications for the treatment of HIV - Updated July, 2008 |
It should be understood that only a small percentage of people suffer debilitating side effects, and in most cases the side effects can be controlled if they know in advance what to expect if they should they occur. For information on where and how these medications work see "Lessons - HIV - Viral Infection". For tips on managing side effects and adherence see "Lessons - Medication Adherence.
Note: The phone number given under "Made by" is for the Patient Assistance Programs that your doctor or case manager can help enroll you in if you cannot qualify for other assistance programs, have no insurance and cannot afford the prescriptions.
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Nucleoside/Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI, NtRTI) |
Do not take Retrovir, Videx or Zerit in any combination due to the combined side effects. |
Medication |
Name |
Usual Adult Dose |
Possible Side Effects |
Made by |
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Emtriva emtricitabine, FTC |
One 200mg tablet once a day (qd), with or without food |
No side effects for most, but possible diarrhea, nausea, headache and rash |
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One 300mg tablet, once a day (qd), or one 150mg tablets twice a day (bid), with or without food |
No side effects for most, but possible diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, hair loss, problems sleeping, ill feeling, nasal stuffiness, cough, peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling or numbness in hands and feet/legs), low white or red blood cell (neutrapenia, anemia) |
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Retrovir zidovudine, AZT |
One 300mg tablet, twice a day (bid), with or without food |
Nausea, headache, fatigue, ill feeling, fever and chills, muscle soreness, discoloration of fingernails (possibly toenails), low white or red blood cell (neutrapenia, anemia) |
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Videx EC didanosine, ddI |
One 400mg capsule, once a day (qd); adjust for weight; take on empty stomach |
Peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling or numbness in hands and feet/legs), diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, problems sleeping, pancreatitis, changes in eyes and optic nerve inflammation |
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Viread tenofovir |
One 300mg tablet, once a day (qd) with or without food |
No side effects for most, but possible nausea, headache, diarrhea, vomiting, gas, cramps, swollen abdomen, weakness, loss of appetite, kidney toxicities (back pain), and low blood phosphate |
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Zerit stavudine, d4T |
One 40mg capsule, twice a day (bid), with adjustments for weight & side effects; with or without food |
Peripheral neuropathy (pain, tingling or numbness in hands and feet/legs), diarrhea, nausea, headache, fatigue, problems sleeping, cramps, anxiety, depression, rash, loss of body fat, particularly noticeable in face (lipoatrophy), mitochondrial toxicities, general ill feeling |
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Ziagen Abacavir sulfate |
Two 300mg tablets once a day (qd), or one 300mg tablet twice a day (bid); with or without food |
Hypersensitivity reaction - severe rash and itchy skin (report to doctor immediately), mild rash that usually appears one to two weeks after starting but then goes away, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, headache, fever, rash, loss of appetite, high blood sugar, and triglycerides (fat in blood) Note: if a person has a hypersensitivity reaction the Ziagen will have to be discontinued, and never restarted. |
GlaxoSmithKline www.treathiv.com
888-825-5249 |
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