Lamivudine/tenofovir

Lamivudine/tenofovir is a medication used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is a combination of two antiretroviral drugs, lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil, and is taken by mouth.

Medical uses

Lamivudine/tenofovir is used together with other medications to treat HIV/AIDS. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body, helping your immune system to work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Lamivudine and tenofovir both belong to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).

Side effects

Common side effects of lamivudine/tenofovir include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headache. Serious side effects may include a build up of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis), liver problems, and kidney problems.

Interactions

Lamivudine/tenofovir can interact with other medications, herbs, or vitamins you might be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully.

Pharmacology

Lamivudine and tenofovir are both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). They work by blocking a process that the HIV virus needs in order to multiply.

History

Lamivudine/tenofovir was approved for medical use in the United States in 2012. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system.

See also

• List of antiretroviral drugs
• HIV/AIDS
• Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Lamivudine/tenofovir Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? WikiMD's DocFinder can help find general and specialist physicians.	Latest articles Most recent articles Ongoing trials.