Lamivudine/Zalcitabine Interactions
This information is generalized and not intended as specific medical advice. Consult your healthcare professional before taking or discontinuing any drug or commencing any course of treatment.
Medical warning:
Very Serious. These medicines may interact and cause very harmful effects and are usually not taken together. Contact your healthcare professional (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) for more information.
How the interaction occurs:
Lamivudine and zalcitabine are changed by your body to their active forms. They may compete for the same enzymes and prevent each other from being activated.
What might happen:
The amount of active medicine in your body may decrease and they may not work as well.
What you should do about this interaction:
Let your healthcare professionals (e.g. doctor or pharmacist) know that you are taking these medicines together. Your doctor may want to check to see how your medicines are working. Your doctor may want to change your medicine.Your healthcare professionals may already be aware of this interaction and may be monitoring you for it. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.
- 1.Epivir (lamivudine) US prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline May, 2019.
- 2.Trizivir (abacavir sulfate, lamivudine, and zidovudine) US prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline April, 2018.
- 3.Epzicom (abacavir sulfate and lamivudine) US prescribing information. GlaxoSmithKline February, 2021.
- 4.Veal GJ, Barry MG, Khoo SH, Back DJ. In vitro screening of nucleoside analog combinations for potential use in anti-HIV therapy. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 1997 Apr 10;13(6):481-4.
- 5.Kewn S, Veal GJ, Hoggard PG, Barry MG, Back DJ. Lamivudine (3TC) phosphorylation and drug interactions in vitro. Biochem Pharmacol 1997 Sep 1;54(5):589-95.
- 6.Hoggard PG, Sales SD, Kewn S, Sunderland D, Khoo SH, Hart CA, Back DJ. Correlation between intracellular pharmacological activation of nucleoside analogues and HIV suppression in vitro. Antivir Chem Chemother 2000 Nov; 11(6):353-8.
- 7.Hivid (zalcitabine) US prescribing information. Roche Pharmaceuticals September, 2002.
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CONDITIONS OF USE: The information in this database is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for you or anyone else. A healthcare professional should be consulted before taking any drug, changing any diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment.