Stavudine for HIV

About stavudine

Stavudine is an antiretroviral medicine. It is prescribed for infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). 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. Stavudine 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.

Stavudine 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). Stavudine will be prescribed for you if other, more usually prescribed NRTIs are not suitable for you. It is usually prescribed for a short time, after which your treatment will most likely be switched to an alternative antiretroviral. 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. It is vital to take your antiretroviral medicines exactly as prescribed to maintain success and to help to prevent the virus from becoming resistant to the medicines.

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 stavudine it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si estás embarazada, intentando tener un bebé o amamantando.

• Si tiene algún problema con el funcionamiento de su hígado, o si tiene problemas con el funcionamiento de sus riñones.

• Si bebes mucho alcohol.

• If you have ever had inflammation of your pancreas, called pancreatitis.

• If you have ever had peripheral neuropathy. This condition causes tingling or numbness, particularly in your hands or feet.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que se pueda comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.

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

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

• Take stavudine exactly as your doctor tells you to. You will be asked to take two doses each day, 12 hours apart. 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.

• Swallow the capsule with a drink of water. If you (or your child) have difficulties swallowing capsules, you can open the capsule and mix the contents with a little soft food.

• Try to take stavudine at the same times each day, as this will help you to remember to take it regularly. Stavudine should preferably be taken while your stomach is empty, so about an hour before you eat a meal. If this is not possible, it can be taken after a light meal.

• If you forget to take a dose at your usual time, take it as soon as you remember (unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose and take the next dose as normal). Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

• Keep your regular appointments with your doctor so that your progress can be monitored. You will need to have regular blood tests to check how well your medicines are working.

• It is important that you continue to take stavudine 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 stavudine, 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 cuidadosamente cualquier consejo que le dé su médico sobre hacer cambios en su estilo de vida para reducir cualquier riesgo de daño a su corazón y vasos sanguíneos. Estos pueden incluir dejar de fumar, comer saludablemente y hacer ejercicio regularmente.

• Algunas personas que toman medicamentos antirretrovirales desarrollan cambios en la forma en que la grasa corporal se distribuye en el cuerpo. Esto puede resultar en cambios en la imagen corporal. Su médico discutirá la posibilidad de esto con usted.

• Aunque el tratamiento con medicamentos antirretrovirales puede reducir el riesgo de transmitir el VIH a otros a través del contacto sexual, no lo elimina por completo. Es importante que uses preservativos.

• It is not uncommon for people with HIV to feel low or even depressed, especially soon after the diagnosis has been made and treatment has been started. If you have any feelings of depression, or any distressing thoughts about harming yourself then you should speak with your doctor de inmediato.

• Stavudine 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 stavudine cause problems?'. If you develop any of the symptoms listed below, you must let your doctor know de inmediato, ya que pueden empeorar e incluso volverse potencialmente mortales.

• Algunas personas que han tomado medicamentos antirretrovirales (particularmente durante un largo período) han desarrollado una condición llamada osteonecrosis. Esta es una enfermedad ósea donde el tejido óseo muere debido a una reducción en el suministro de sangre. Esto lleva a dolores articulares y rigidez, y puede causar dificultades en el movimiento. Si nota alguno de estos síntomas, hable con su médico.

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

• Si vas a someterte a una operación o tratamiento dental, informa a la persona que realiza el tratamiento sobre los medicamentos que estás tomando.

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

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 stavudine. 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 stavudine are similar to the symptoms of lactic acidosis - a less common but more serious problem.

Your doctor will discuss with you the possibility of lactic acidosis occurring. Let your doctor know straightaway if you develop any of the following symptoms:

• Feeling sick or being sick (vomiting), tummy pain, loss of appetite, loss of weight, feeling weak or dizzy, and fast or gasping breathing.

Si experimenta otros síntomas que cree que pueden deberse al medicamento, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para obtener más consejos.

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

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