Lamivudina para el VIH

About lamivudine

Lamivudine is an antiretroviral medicine. It is used mainly for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It slows the progress of HIV infection, but it is not a cure. HIV destroys cells in the body, called CD4 T cells. These cells are a type of white blood cell and are important because they are involved in protecting your body from infection. If left untreated, the HIV infection weakens your immune system so that your body cannot defend itself against bacteria, viruses and other germs. Lamivudine slows down the progress of HIV infection by reducing the amount of virus in your body. It does this by stopping the virus from copying (replicating) itself.

Lamivudine will be prescribed for you by a doctor who is a specialist. It belongs to a group of antiretroviral medicines known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It is given alongside a number of other antiretroviral medicines, as part of a combination therapy. Taking three or more antiretroviral medicines at the same time is more effective than taking one alone. Taking a combination of different medicines also reduces the risk that the virus will become resistant to any individual medicine. Some brands of lamivudine contain one or more other antiretroviral medicine (see the list in the table above) - these combination brands help to reduce the total number of tablets you need to take each day. Not all of the information in this leaflet applies to the combination brands, so please refer to the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack for full details.

Es fundamental tomar los antirretrovíricos exactamente como se prescriben para mantener el éxito y evitar que el virus se vuelva resistente a los medicamentos. Estos medicamentos suelen tomarse de por vida.

Lamivudine is also prescribed for another viral infection - there is more information about this in a separate medicine leaflet called Lamivudine for hepatitis B infection.

Before taking lamivudine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking lamivudine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• Si tiene algún problema con el funcionamiento del hígado o de los riñones.

• Si bebes mucho alcohol.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye todos los medicamentos que se pueden comprar sin receta, así como las hierbas medicinales y los medicamentos complementarios.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.
  

How to take lamivudine

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. It will give you more information about lamivudine, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take lamivudine exactly as your doctor tells you to. You may be asked to take one or two doses each day. Adults will usually be prescribed tablets to take, whereas children are likely to be supplied with liquid medicine (Epivir® Oral Solution). Your doctor will tell you how much you should take for each dose. Your dose will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• It is recommended that you swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water. If you are taking Epivir® or Combivir® and have difficulty swallowing the tablets, you can crush them and then add them to a drink or a small amount of soft food, providing you swallow it straightaway. Alternatively, let your doctor know you have difficulty swallowing the tablets, as the liquid medicine may be more suitable for you.

• Try to take lamivudine at the same time(s) each day, as this will help you to remember to take it regularly. You can take lamivudine either with or without food.

• Si olvida tomar una dosis, tómela en cuanto se acuerde (a menos que sea casi la hora de la siguiente dosis, en cuyo caso omita la dosis olvidada y tome la siguiente dosis normalmente). No tome dos dosis juntas para compensar la dosis olvidada.

Instructions for using the dosing syringe for Epivir® Oral Solution

1. Retire el tapón de la botella e introduzca el adaptador de plástico en la parte superior de la botella abierta.

2. Make sure the plunger is fully pushed into the syringe, and then insert the tip of the syringe into the adapter.

3. Dé la vuelta al frasco (con la jeringa conectada a él).

4. Pull out the plunger on the syringe to the mark which corresponds to your dose.

5. Vuelva a girar el frasco hacia arriba y retire la jeringa del frasco.

6. Put the tip of the syringe into your child's mouth (or if appropriate, your mouth), and gently push the plunger so that the liquid is released.

7. Repita los pasos 2-6 si le han indicado que utilice más de una jeringa.

8. Leaving the adapter in place, replace the bottle cap. Wash the syringe with water after each use.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Visite regularmente a su médico para que pueda controlar su evolución. Deberá hacerse análisis de sangre periódicos para comprobar la eficacia de los medicamentos.

• It is important that you continue to take lamivudine and your other antiretroviral treatment regularly. This will help to prevent the HIV from becoming resistant to the medicines you are taking. Even if you miss only a small number of doses, the virus can become resistant to treatment.

• If you develop an infection soon after you start the treatment, let your doctor know. As a result of taking lamivudine, your immune system may start fighting an infection which was present before you started the treatment, but which you may not have been aware of.

• Siga al pie de la letra las recomendaciones de su médico sobre cambios en el estilo de vida para reducir el riesgo de daños en el corazón y los vasos sanguíneos. Por ejemplo, dejar de fumar, comer sano y hacer ejercicio con regularidad.

• Algunas personas que toman antirretrovirales desarrollan cambios en la distribución de la grasa corporal. Esto puede provocar cambios en la imagen corporal. Tu médico hablará contigo sobre esta posibilidad.

• Aunque el tratamiento con antirretrovíricos puede reducir el riesgo de transmitir el VIH a otras personas a través del contacto sexual, no lo detiene. Es importante que utilices preservativos.

• No es infrecuente que las personas seropositivas se sientan decaídas o incluso deprimidas, sobre todo poco después del diagnóstico y del inicio del tratamiento. Si te sientes deprimido o tienes pensamientos angustiosos sobre hacerte daño, habla con tu médico inmediatamente.

• Lamivudine has been associated with a serious side-effect in some people who have taken it. This is known as lactic acidosis. It is a problem where there is too much lactic acid in the blood. The symptoms associated with it are listed in the next section 'Can lamivudine cause problems?'. If you develop any of the symptoms listed below, you must let your doctor know straightaway, as they can worsen, and may even become life-threatening.

• Algunas personas que han tomado antirretrovirales (sobre todo durante mucho tiempo) han desarrollado una enfermedad llamada osteonecrosis. Se trata de una enfermedad ósea en la que el tejido óseo muere debido a la reducción del riego sanguíneo. Produce dolores y rigidez en las articulaciones y puede dificultar el movimiento. Si notas alguno de estos síntomas, habla con tu médico.

• If you buy any medicines, supplements or herbal remedies 'over the counter', check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with lamivudine and your other medicines. This is because some medicines interfere with antiretrovirals and can stop them from working properly.

• Si va a someterse a una operación o a un tratamiento dental, comunique a la persona que lleve a cabo el tratamiento qué medicamentos está tomando.

• Treatment for HIV is usually lifelong. Continue to take lamivudine regularly, even if you feel well. This is to keep your immune system healthy.

Can lamivudine cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with lamivudine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. You should, however, speak with your doctor if you develop any of the following side-effects. This is because some of the common side-effects of lamivudine are similar to the symptoms of lactic acidosis - a less common but more serious problem.

Su médico discutirá con usted la posibilidad de que se produzca acidosis láctica. Informe inmediatamente a su médico si presenta alguno de los síntomas siguientes:

• Sentirse mal (náuseas) o estar enfermo (vómitos), dolor de barriga, pérdida de apetito, pérdida de peso, sensación de debilidad o mareo y respiración rápida o jadeante.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que considere que puede deberse al medicamento, consulte a su médico o farmacéutico.

How to store lamivudine

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.

• Once a bottle of Epivir® Oral Solution has been opened it will keep for 30 days - after this time, make sure you have a fresh supply.

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos