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Introduction About HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP contains Lamivudine which belongs to a group of medicines called Anti-viral drugs. It is used to manage Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection in adults and children.
HIV is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and other related illness. Signs and symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches and joint pain, rash, sore throat and painful mouth sores, swollen lymph glands, mainly on the neck, diarrhea, weight loss, cough and night sweats.
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless it is considered clearly necessary. It is not recommended for use in breastfeeding women as it passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before taking it.
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP should be used with caution in patients with liver disease, kidney problem, diabetes, pancreatitis. Consult your doctor before taking it.
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP should be used with caution in children with kidney problem. It should be used with caution in elderly patients. Consult your doctor before taking it.
The most common side effects of taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP are headache, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhea, tiredness, fever, etc. Contact your doctor if any of the symptoms worsen.
Uses Of HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP
- To manage HIV infection
How HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP Works
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP inhibits the activity of enzyme (HIV-1 reverse transcriptase) which is responsible for virus replication. Thus, it helps to decrease the amount of HIV in the body.
How to use HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP
Take HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP as advised by your physician. Shake well before use. It can be taken with or without food. Your doctor will decide the correct dose of HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition. Do not stop taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP unless your doctor advice you to stop.
Side Effects Of HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP
Common
- headache
- nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain
- tiredness, lack of energy
- fever
- feeling generally unwell
- muscle pain and discomfort, joint pain
- difficulty in sleeping
- cough, irritated or runny nose
- rash
- alopecia (hair loss)
Rare
- breakdown of muscle tissue
Stop taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP and consult with your doctor if you experience any of the following:
- serious allergic reaction such as skin rash, hives, swelling of the face, tongue or throat leading to difficulty in swallowing or breathing, chest pain
- signs and symptoms of lactic acidosis such as feel very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, difficulty in breathing, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, feel cold, especially in your arms and legs, feel dizzy or light-headed, fast or irregular heartbeat
- signs and symptoms of liver disease such as yellowish discolouration of skin or the white part of your eyes (jaundice), dark or tea-coloured urine, light-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area
- signs and symptoms of pancreatitis such as severe upper stomach-area pain, with or without nausea and vomiting
How To Manage Side Effects
Headache:
Rest and relax. Drink plenty of fluids such as water or ORS (Oral Rehydrating Solution) and apply a pain-relieving balm on the head if necessary. Contact your doctor if your headache did not improve.
Nausea and vomiting:
Take the medicine, with or just after a meal. Stick to simple meals. Avoid eating oily or spicy food. Contact your doctor if your nausea and vomiting did not improve.
Stomach pain:
Try to rest and relax. Eat small meals but take frequently. Keep a heat pad on your stomach. Contact your doctor if your stomach pain worsens.
Diarrhoea:
Drink lots of fluids, such as water or fruit juices to keep yourself hydrated. Do not take any medicine on your own for managing diarrhoea. Contact your doctor if your diarrhoea did not improve.
Warning & Precautions
Pregnancy
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless it is considered clearly necessary. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Breastfeeding
Women who are HIV-positive must not breast-feed, because HIV infection can be passed on to the baby in breast milk. A small amount of the ingredients in HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP can also pass into your breast milk. Hence, nursing mothers must not breastfeed their infants while taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP. Contact your doctor immediately if you’re breast-feeding or thinking about breast-feeding.
Driving and Using Machines
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP is unlikely to affect your ability to drive or use machines. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Kidney
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP should be used with caution in patients with kidney problem and may require dose adjustment. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Liver
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP should be used with caution if you had liver disease, including hepatitis B or C. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Allergy
Do not take HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP if you are allergic to lamivudine or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
Others
Before taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP, inform your doctor if you:
- are seriously overweight (especially women)
- have diabetes
- have pancreatitis
- have intolerance to sugars
Use in pediatrics:
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP should be used with caution in children with kidney problem. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Use in geriatrics:
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP should be used with caution in elderly patients. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Interactions
A. Drug-Drug interactions:
Before taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP, inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicine:
- medicines (generally liquids) containing sorbitol and other sugar alcohols (Ex. xylitol, mannitol, lactitol or maltitol)
- other medicines containing lamivudine (used to manage HIV infection or hepatitis B infection) Ex. dolutegravir and lamivudine, tenofovir and lamivudine
- emtricitabine (used to manage HIV infection)
- co-trimoxazole (used to manage infections)
- cladribine (used to manage hairy cell leukaemia- a type of bone marrow cancer)
- interferon alfa, ribavirin (medicines used to manage hepatitis B & C)
Overdose:
If you or anyone else accidentally take too much of HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP, contact your doctor immediately or visit the nearby hospital.
Synopsis
| Drug | : | Lamivudine |
| Pharmacological Category | : | Nucleoside Analogue Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) |
| Therapeutic Indication | : | HIV infection |
| Dosage Forms | : | Tablet, Solution |
More Information
- Keep HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP out of the sight and reach of children
- Store HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP below 30°C
FAQs About HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP
Does HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP manage HIV infection?
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP does not completely manage HIV infection; it reduces the amount of virus in your body and keeps a check at it. It also increases the CD4 cell count (important in fighting infection) in your blood.
What does HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP do to the body?
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP inhibits the activity of enzyme (HIV-1 reverse transcriptase) which is responsible for virus replication. Thus, it helps to decrease the amount of HIV in the body.
How often do you take HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP?
Take HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP according to the physician advice. Generally, it is used once or twice daily. Your doctor will decide the correct dose and duration for you depending upon your age, body weight and disease condition.
Does HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP cause liver damage?
Yes, HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP is rarely associated with liver damage. Stop taking the medicine and contact your doctor immediately if you experience signs and symptoms of liver disease such as yellowish discolouration of skin or the white part of your eyes (jaundice), dark or tea-coloured urine, light-coloured stools, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, pain or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.
Is HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP safe in pregnancy?
HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP is not recommended for use in pregnant women unless it is considered clearly necessary. It may cause side effects in unborn babies. If you have taken HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP during your pregnancy, your doctor may take regular blood tests and other diagnostic tests to monitor the development of your child. Consult your doctor before taking it.
Can I pass HIV to other people while taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP?
HIV infection is spread by sexual contact with infected person or by transfer of infected blood (for example, by sharing injection needles). You can still pass on HIV when taking HEPTAVIR 10MG SYRUP, although the risk is lowered by effective antiretroviral management. Consult your doctor regarding the precautions needed to avoid passing the infection to other people.
References
1. Barbara G. Wells, Joseph T. Dipiro, Terry L. Shwinghammer, Cecily V. DiPiro. Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection. Pharmacotherapy Handbook. Ninth edition. 2015. Page- 371.
2. KD. Tripathi. Antiviral Drugs. Essentials of Medical Pharmacology. Seventh edition. 2013. Page – 807, 808.
3. Taylor K, Fritz K, Parmar M. Lamivudine. NIH National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information. StatPearls. January 2022. [Accessed on 28th April 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559252/
4. Bethesda (MD). Lamivudine: LiverTox: Clinical and Research Information on Drug-Induced Liver Injury. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. April 2019. [Accessed on 28th April 2022] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK548553/
5. Glaxo Operations UK Ltd. Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC). [Revised in August 2021] [Accessed on 28th April 2022] https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.942.pdf
6. Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc. U.S. Food & Drug Administration. [Revised in September 2017] [Accessed on 28th April 2022] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2017/020564s37_020596s036lbl.pdf
7. GlaxoSmithKline. Lamivudine. [Revised in December 2021] [Accessed on 28th April 2022] https://gskpro.com/content/dam/global/hcpportal/en_US/Prescribing_Information/Epivir-HBV/pdf/EPIVIR-HBV-PI-PIL.PDF
8. Lamivudine solution. DailyMed: National Library of Medicine: National Institute of Health. January 2016. [Accessed on 28th April 2022] https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=253ca106-d120-4483-9e5c-41b164044c9d
Useful Diagnostic Tests
- Liver Function Test
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Lipid profile test
- Viral Load Test
- CD4 Count Test
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