Lamivudine/tenofovir

Chemical structure of Lamivudine and Tenofovir disoproxil

Lamivudine/tenofovir is a combination antiretroviral medication used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is a fixed-dose combination of two antiretroviral drugs: lamivudine and tenofovir disoproxil. This combination is used to help control HIV infection, improve the immune system, and reduce the risk of developing AIDS-related illnesses.

Medical Uses

Lamivudine/tenofovir is primarily used in the treatment of HIV infection. It is often prescribed as part of a combination therapy with other antiretroviral agents. The combination works by inhibiting the action of the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is crucial for the replication of the HIV virus. By doing so, it helps to lower the viral load in the body and increase the number of CD4+ T cells, thereby improving the immune function.

Mechanism of Action

Lamivudine and tenofovir are both nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). They work by mimicking the natural nucleosides that the virus uses to synthesize DNA. When the virus incorporates these drugs into its DNA chain, it results in premature termination of the DNA strand, thereby inhibiting viral replication.

Lamivudine

Lamivudine is a synthetic nucleoside analogue that is phosphorylated intracellularly to its active form, lamivudine triphosphate. This active form competes with the natural substrate, deoxycytidine triphosphate, for incorporation into viral DNA.

Tenofovir

Tenofovir disoproxil is a prodrug of tenofovir, which is an analogue of adenosine 5'-monophosphate. Once inside the cell, it is converted to tenofovir diphosphate, which inhibits the activity of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase by competing with the natural substrate, deoxyadenosine 5'-triphosphate.

Side Effects

Common side effects of lamivudine/tenofovir include nausea, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, and dizziness. More serious side effects can include lactic acidosis, liver problems, and kidney issues. Patients are advised to have regular monitoring of liver and kidney function while on this medication.

Contraindications

Lamivudine/tenofovir is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to either component of the combination. Caution is advised in patients with pre-existing liver or kidney disease.

Related Pages

• HIV/AIDS
• Antiretroviral therapy
• Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
• Lamivudine
• Tenofovir