Brand: Hivid
Generic: Zalcitabine
Hivid is an antiviral drug, used to treat and prevent the spread of Human Immunodeficiency Virus/HIV infection in the body.
It does not kill the virus neither cure HIV infection but Zalcitabine delays the progress of the disease to AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome) and prevents further complications by interfering the reproduction of the virus. This medicine also inhibits HIV/AIDS transmission from an infected mother to an unborn child.
Instructions
Read your medication guide and follow your doctor’s prescription at all times.
- Take 1 tablet of 0.75 mg Zalcitabine (recommended dose for adult) by mouth/orally without food/on empty stomach (1 hour before or 2 hours after eating to enhance absorption of the medication) per doctor’s prescription.
- Each dose must have 8 hours interval but individuals with kidney problem shall follow a 12 or 24 hour interval between doses depending on the doctor’s recommendation.
- The dosage depends on your medical condition or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
- Consult your doctor regularly and submit yourself to a routine blood test in order to ensure that Zalcitabine is efficiently working.
- Practice protected sex even when you’re on Zalcitabine to avoid transmission of HIV/AIDS infection.
- Avoid alcohol intake while on Zalcitabine to prevent liver or kidney damage.
- Continue taking Zalcitabine on regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking this medication abruptly without consulting your doctor.
Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.
Missed dose
Take your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close. Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.
Interactions
Zalcitabine may interact with:
- Lamivudine
- Chloramphenicol
- Cisplatin
- Dapsone
- Disulfiram
- Ribavirin
- Nitrofurantoin
- Isoniazid
- Metronidazole
- Vincristine
- Cimetidine
- Foscarnet
- Probenecid
- Ampthotericin B
- Amikacin, gentamycin, kanamycin, neomycin, netilmicin, streptomycin, tobramycin and tetracycline antibiotics
- Valproic acid and
- Furosemide or other diuretics
Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of Zalcitabine. Likewise, Zalcitabine may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.
Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with Zalcitabine.
Never alter the doses of other medications while on Zalcitabine neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.
Side Effects
There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.
Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:
- Rash
- Itching
- Swelling
Warnings
Before taking Zalcitabine (Hivid), tell your health care provider if you have/are:
- Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to Zalcitabine (Hivid)
- Medical history or a present condition such as:
- Liver disease
- Kidneys problem
- Pancreas disorder
- Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a child (Zalcitabine can be harmful to an unborn child but it is unknown if Zalcitabine passes through breast milk that can harm the nursing child. An HIV/AIDS positive mother is not recommended to breastfeed as the virus can be transmitted to the nursing child through the breast milk. The risk and benefits of using this medication during pregnancy should be discussed thoroughly with your doctor.)
