What is Epivir (Lamivudine)?

Lamivudine is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NTRI). It is available as Epivir and Epivir-HBV. This medicine is used to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and Hepatitis B as it reduces the amount of hepatitis B and HIV in the blood. Taking Lamivudine along with required lifestyle modifications and safer sex practices can successfully reduce the risk of spreading Hepatitis B and HIV to other people.

What is Lamivudine And Why is It Used?

Lamivudine (Epivir) is given in combination with other medications to treat HIV infection and hepatitis B infection. However, Epivir is not a cure for HIV, it can lessen the risk of developing AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and HIV-associated illnesses including severe infections and cancer.

Epivir to treat HIV Infection:

Epivir is prescribed to treat HIV infection in adult patients and children older than three months of age.

Epivir HBV to treat Hepatitis B infection:

Epivir HBV is prescribed to treat chronic hepatitis B infection in adult patients and children above two years of age. It may not prevent the spreading of hepatitis B infection to other people. It slows down the virus progression lessening the liver damage caused by HPV.

Epivir and Epivir HBV are both intended for different conditions. Epivir medication (tablets and liquid) should not be interchanged with Epivir HBV (tablets and liquid). Epivir comprises a higher dose of Lamivudine than Epivir HBV.

Treating HIV patients with Epivir HBV can make HIV virus treatment difficult with Lamivudine and other medicines. Visit the Grant Pharmacy website and Order your Epivir medicine today. If a patient is suffering from both HIV and Hepatitis B infection, only Epivir should be prescribed. If a patient is taking Epivir HBV to treat hepatitis B virus infection, discuss the risks of HIV infection with your healthcare provider.

Lamivudine is accessible in Different Dosage Forms and Strengths

• Epivir 150 mg tablet

• Epivir 300 mg tablet

• Epivir HBV 100 mg tablet

• Epivir 10 mg/ml (oral solution)

• Epivir 50 mg/ml (oral solution)

How Does Lamivudine Work to Treat HIV And HBV Infections?

The drug Lamivudine belongs to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It obstructs the reverse transcriptase enzyme present in HBV and HIV that helps these viruses replicate and make their copies. By blocking this enzyme Lamivudine effectively prevents HIV and HBV replication and its transmission. Epivir: Get it from our Reputed Online Grant Pharmacy.

Lamivudine Dosage for Different Patients Infected With HIV and HPV

The exact Lamivudine dosage for both Hepatitis B and HIV infections may vary from patient to patient depending on various factors such as the age of the patient, the severity of the condition, other medicines you are taking, and how your body acts to the initial dose of this medicine.

Typical Dosage of Epivir for HIV Patients (generic oral tablet and solution and Epivir):

The dosage for adults as well as kids weighing 25 kg and above is 300 mg orally once a day or 150 mg twice a day.

The dosage for kids weighing 20-24 kg is 225 mg orally once a day or 75 mg every morning and 150 mg every evening.

The dosage for children with body weight 14-18 kg is 150 mg once a day or 75 mg twice a day.

The dosage for children weighing less than 14 kg is 10 mg/kg of the body weight once a day or 5 mg/kg of body weight twice a day.

The dosage for children (3 months and older) is determined by the healthcare professional based on the exact body weight of the child.

Typical Dosage of Epivir HBV for Hepatitis B Patients (generic oral tablet and Epivir HBV):

The dosage for adult patients is 100 mg orally by mouth once a day.

The dosage for children (2-17 years) is determined by the doctor depending on the body weight of the child. The typical dose for children is 3 mg/kg of body weight daily.

How to Use Lamivudine Properly?

Usually, it is recommended to take Epivir once or twice a day before or after a meal and Epivir HBV once a day. Be sure that you carefully follow the instructions on your prescription label. Epivir from Grant Pharmacy and get it delivered to your doorstep. This medication is precisely as advised by your healthcare professional. Do not modify the prescribed dosage without consulting your healthcare team.

Lamivudine treats and helps patients manage hepatitis B and HIV infections however it is not the cure for these infections. Even if you start feeling better after some doses still do not stop taking this medicine before completing the prescribed duration of treatment.

To get maximum benefits of this medicine use it regularly as prescribed. Lamivudine works its best when you maintain a constant level of this drug inside your body. If possible, take this medicine every day at the same time and do not skip doses.

When you notice that the supply of Lamivudine is running low, get more from GrantPharmacy at affordable prices. You can buy Epivir from Online Grant Pharmacy. If you skip doses or discontinue using Lamivudine before the prescribed period, your infection may become tough to treat.

Missed Dose

If you forgot to take a dose, take your medicine as soon as you remember. However, if remember about the missed dose near the time of your next dose. You can skip the missed dose and continue with your next scheduled dose. Do not double dose. If you are not sure what to do, contact your health care professional.

Cautions

Inform your health care professional if you are suffering from or you think you may have hepatitis B virus infection. Your doctor will do the required tests and then prescribe Lamivudine.Visit the Grant Pharmacy website and Order your Lamivudine medicine today. If you are taking this medicine, your condition may become worse suddenly when you stop taking this medication. Your healthcare provider will suggest regular lab tests for some months after you stop taking Lamivudine.

Proper counseling and medical testing should be provided to patients before and during the treatment with Lamivudine. Using Lamivudine HBV in patients with unknown or untreated HIV infection can produce new types of HIV viruses which are harder to treat due to drug resistance.

When Lamivudine is stopped too early or before the suggested period, hepatitis can become severely worse. Severe acute exacerbations of HBV have been shown in patients coinfected with HBV and HIV and have stopped Epivir. Regular liver and blood tests should be done during and severe months after the medicine is stopped.

Always use effective preventive methods such as latex condoms to avoid transmitting hepatitis B and HIV infections to your partners during sexual activity. Moreover, don’t share this medicine with others even if they have similar symptoms.

Regular lab and medical tests including hepatitis B virus DNA levels, complete blood counts, blood chemistries, and liver function should be done throughout the treatment with this medicine. Carefully track all your medical and lab appointments during the treatment.

Different brands of Lamivudine may have different quantities of active drug. It is not advised to switch brands without consulting your doctor. Lamivudine: Get it from our Reputed Online Grant Pharmacy.

If any patient getting Epivir treatment develops clinical or laboratory findings suggestive of pronounced hepatotoxicity (lactic acidosis) treatment should be stopped.

Taking Lamivudine to treat HIV infection may cause alterations in immune system making it more active that condition is known as immune reconstitution syndrome. the immune system start combating various infections that it was too weak combat before Epivir treatment.

Possible Side Effects

This medication is prescribed when your doctor knows that its benefits are much greater than the likelihood of side effects. Many people do not experience side effects while some may have side effects including:

• Headache

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting/nausea

• Stomach pain

• Sleep difficulties

• Stuffy nose

• Dizziness

• Tiredness

If any of these symptoms become severe or last longer call your healthcare provider. Do not take any medicines to ease side effects until your doctor recommends as it can increase the risk factors. 

Seek immediate attention from your healthcare provider if you experience serious liver problems (light-colored stool, dark urine, loss of appetite) or too much lactic acid in the blood (tiredness, weakness, fast heartbeat, trouble breathing). These are rare but serious side effects.

Precautionary Measures You Need to Take

Allergic reaction:

Before you begin with Lamivudine HBV medication, tell your doctor if you are allergic to this medicine, any of its ingredients, or any other ingredients. The inactive ingredients of this medicine may also cause allergic reactions in certain patients.

Medical conditions:

Before you start taking Lamivudine, make sure your healthcare team is aware of your medical history and current conditions, particularly HIV infection, liver disease, blood disorders, kidney disease, and pancreatitis.

Diabetes:

Lamivudine HBV contain sugar (sucrose). In diabetic patients, using Epivir oral solution necessitates close monitoring of blood sugar levels.

Pediatric use:

Pediatric patients may be more prone to experiencing side effects of this medicine. Children with a history of pancreatitis, prior antiretroviral nucleoside exposure or other significant risk factors for developing pancreatitis, Lamivudine should be used cautiously.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding:

Lamivudine is prescribed during pregnancy when it is essentially required. Limited studies demonstrated that this drug did not increase the risk of birth defects. Lamivudine passes into breast milk, talk to your healthcare provider before breastfeeding while using Lamivudine tablets. Discuss the benefits and potential risks of using this medicine during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Alcohol and illegal drug use:

This drug may cause dizziness and consuming alcohol while taking this medicine can make you more dizzy and drowsy. Therefore it is recommended to avoid consuming alcoholic beverages and inform your doctor if you are using cannabis or any other illegal drugs.

Possible Drug Interactions Associated to Lamivudine

Drug interactions affect how your medicines work and increase the risk of experiencing serious side effects. Make sure your doctor is aware of any medicines, health supplements, vitamins, or herbal products you are using. You can buy Lamivudine from Online Grant Pharmacy. Do not start any other medication without consulting your healthcare team. 

Other drugs which may interact with Lamivudine include:

• Sorbitol

• Emtricitabine

• Tafenoquine

• Trilaciclib

• Cabotegravir

• Betibeglogene autotemcel

Using certain medicines with Lamivudine requires close monitoring such as:

• Abacavir

• Atazanavir

• Cabozantinib

• Givinostat

• Ganciclovir

• Fosamprenavir

• Eradfitnib

• Enfuvirtide

Additionally, it is advised not to use this drug with other products containing Lamivudine. Pediatric subjects who got Lamivudine oral solution in combination antiretroviral therapy during the ARROW trial had lower plasma Lamivudine exposure, decreased rates of virologic suppression and developing viral resistance more frequently than patients who got Lamivudine tablets.

As per clinical studies Lamivudine oral solution pediatric subjects with other antiretroviral oral solutions have not experienced considerable improvements while treating HIV infection. It happen because most oral solutions comprise a sweetner that cause lower amount of Epivir in body.

Concluding Words

Lamivudin is considered an effective medicine to treat HBV and HIV infections and mostly well tolerated by patients. If you are getting Epivir for HIV treatment make sure you take it each day at the same time. You can take it with or without food however be careful about the food restrictions relating to your other HIV medicines. Don’t forget to go for regular blood tests while taking Lamivudine to check how this medicine is working for your condition and how your immune system is responding to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of Lamivudine (Epivir)?

The average cost of Epivir (brand name drug) is around $214.93 whereas the generic version of Lamivudine is around $24.34. The exact price of Lamivudine varies from pharmacy to pharmacy. The cost of Lamivudine oral solution is around $126 for a 240 ml bottle. For great savings on the original cost, buy Lamivudine from GrantPharmacy. They offer free shipping and additional discounts.

Does Lamivudine affect the liver?

Liver toxicity is a rare side effect of this drug. Liver toxicity such as an enlarged liver can be experienced by females, obese patients, and patients who are taking HIV medications for a longer period.

How long is Epivir treatment?

Generally, Epivir is prescribed for around 12 months. Most patients require extension however the optimal duration of Lamivudine treatment depends on how well this medicine works work you and the occurrence of possible side effects.

What should I avoid during Lamivudine treatment?

Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages as they can cause severe dizziness. Liquid formulations of Epivir HBV contain sucrose so if you are diabetic watch your sugar levels while using this medication.

Why Epivir is prescribed with other antiretroviral medications?

The combination of Lamivudine and antiretroviral medications is prescribed with an aim to reduce the amount of HIV in body till the undetectable viral load. The undetectable viral load is the point where the virus is not detectable in the lab work. An undetectable viral load allows your immune system to work appropriately to protect you from undesired infections.