- WHAT IS 3TC?
- WHO SHOULD TAKE 3TC?
- WHAT ABOUT DRUG RESISTANCE?
- HOW IS 3TC TAKEN?
- WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
- HOW DOES 3TC REACT WITH OTHER DRUGS?
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3TC (Epivir®), is a drug used for antiviral
therapy. It is manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. 3TC is also
known as lamivudine.
3TC is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor,
or nuke. These drugs block the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This
enzyme changes HIV’s genetic material (RNA) into the form of DNA.
This has to occur before HIV’s genetic code gets inserted into
an infected cell’s own genetic codes.
3TC?
3TC was approved as an antiviral drug for people with HIV infection.
There are no absolute rules about when to start antiviral drugs.
You and your doctor should consider your T-cell
count, your viral load,
any symptoms you are having, and your attitude about taking HIV
medications. Fact Sheet 411
has more information about guidelines
for the use of antiviral medications.
If you take 3TC with other antiviral drugs, you can reduce
your viral load to extremely low levels, and increase your T-cell
counts. This should mean staying healthier longer.
RESISTANCE?
Many new copies of HIV are mutations. They are slightly different
from the original virus. Some mutations can keep multiplying even
when you are taking an antiviral drug. When this happens, the
drug will stop working. This is called “developing resistance”
to the drug. See Fact Sheet 414
for more information on resistance.
Sometimes, if your virus develops resistance to one drug, it
will also have resistance to other antiviral drugs. This is called
“cross-resistance”.
Resistance can develop quickly. It is very important to
take antiviral medications according to instructions, on schedule,
and not to skip or reduce doses.
3TC seems to be able to reduce resistance to AZT. That is,
after people develop resistance to AZT and then take 3TC, AZT
seems to work better for them.
3TC is available in tablets of 150 and 300 milligrams (mg).
It is also available in liquid form. The normal dose of 3TC is
300 mg daily: either one 300 mg tablet daily, or one 150 mg tablet
twice a day. The dosage should be reduced for people who weigh
less than 50 kilograms (110 pounds).
3TC can be taken with food or between meals.
Be sure your doctor knows if you have had kidney problems:
your dose of 3TC may need to be lowered.
3TC is also available in Combivir and Trizivir. Combivir contains
AZT and 3TC. Trizivir contains AZT, 3TC, and abacavir. For more
information, see Fact Sheet 426 on
Combivir or Fact Sheet 427 on
Trizivir.
SIDE EFFECTS?
When you start any antiviral treatment, you may have temporary
side effects such as headaches, hypertension, or a general sense
of feeling ill. These side effects usually get better or disappear
over time.
The most common side effects of 3TC are nausea, vomiting, fatigue,
and headaches. Some people have trouble sleeping. There have been
rare cases of hair loss.
HOW
DOES 3TC REACT WITH OTHER DRUGS?
3TC should not be combined with ddC (zalcitabine, Hivid®).
Blood levels of 3TC may be increased by bactrim
or septra. See Fact Sheet 535
for more information on these drugs.
Revised July 14,
2002
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New Mexico AIDS Education and Training Center
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