Combivir

Why should Combivir not be prescribed?

You should not take Combivir if either component, Epivir or Retrovir, has ever given you an allergic reaction.

Special warnings about Combivir

Remember that Combivir does not totally eliminate HIV from the body. The infection can still be passed on to others through sexual contact or blood contamination.

Combivir can upset the body's acid balance. It can also cause low blood cell counts (anemia), which can adversely affect your health. It should be used with extreme caution by anyone with an existing shortage of blood cells or a disease of the bone marrow (where blood cells are produced). It is very important to have your blood tested regularly, especially if you have an advanced case of HIV.

Combivir is known to occasionally cause serious liver problems.

If you have the chronic liver disease hepatitis B, the virus that causes it may become resistant to the Epivir component of Combivir. Your hepatitis may get worse when Combivir treatment is stopped.

Combivir can cause muscle pain and inflammation. Report these symptoms to your doctor.

If you weigh less than 110 pounds, you should not take Combivir. The Epivir component of Combivir is not recommended in people with low body weight.

Because Combivir contains fixed doses of Epivir and Retrovir, it cannot be used by people who might require a decrease or adjustment in the dosage of either drug, such as children and those with poor kidney or liver function.

Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) can be caused by the Epivir component of Combivir. If any signs of a pancreas problem develop such as severe abdominal pain that goes on for days, accompanied by nausea and vomiting, stop taking Combivir and call your doctor immediately.

Another side effect seen in some people receiving drugs for HIV is a redistribution of body fat, leading to extra fat around the middle, a "buffalo hump" on the back, and wasting in the arms, legs, and face. Researchers don't know whether this represents a long-term health problem or not.