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Lamivudine

Lamivudine is a nucleoside analogue antiretroviral used together with other HIV medicines to treat HIV-1 infection. This listing covers four products: Viropil, Combivir and Epivir for HIV-1, and Epivir Hbv for chronic hepatitis B.

Viropil

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) Infection

50mg + 300mg + 300mg

Dolutegravir and lamivudine tablets for HIV-1 infection. It blocks two different steps in the HIV lifecycle.

From$8.88/ tabletView

Combivir

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) Infection

150mg + 300mg

A lamivudine and zidovudine tablet for HIV-1 infection. Both ingredients mimic natural building blocks of viral DNA, causing the chain to stop growing.

From$1.81/ tabletView

Epivir

Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1 (HIV-1) Infection

150mg

Lamivudine tablets for HIV-1 infection. They are used alongside other antiretrovirals to keep the virus under control.

From$1.51/ tabletView

Epivir Hbv

Chronic Hepatitis B

100mg · 150mg

Lamivudine tablets for chronic hepatitis B. They work by preventing the virus from multiplying in liver cells.

From$1.07/ tabletView

Key points

  • Lamivudine triphosphate (3TC-TP) is the active form your body converts it into; it blocks the HIV-1 enzyme reverse transcriptase, stopping the virus from making new copies of its own DNA.
  • Lactic acidosis and severe liver enlargement with fatty change, including fatal cases, have been reported with lamivudine and other nucleoside analogues, and treatment should stop if signs of either appear.
  • Taken by mouth, lamivudine is well absorbed: one study measured an absolute bioavailability of around 86% for the 150 mg tablet in adults.

What Lamivudine is used for

Lamivudine is always used alongside other antiretroviral medicines to control HIV-1 infection, never on its own; that is how it is listed in Viropil and Combivir here. It is also listed separately as Epivir Hbv, for Chronic Hepatitis B, a distinct use in the Hepatitis Treatment category.

Brands and forms in this catalogue

All four products here come as tablets. Epivir and Epivir Hbv contain lamivudine as the only active ingredient, while Combivir combines it with zidovudine and Viropil combines it with dolutegravir and tenofovir disoproxil, so a single tablet covers more than one antiretroviral. ViiV Healthcare originates Epivir and Combivir, and Emcure Pharmaceuticals originates Viropil, a generic combination built around the same ingredient as the originator brands.

If you also have hepatitis B

Lamivudine tablets used for HIV-1 contain a higher dose of lamivudine than Epivir Hbv, the lower-strength tablet used for chronic hepatitis B, and the two are not used in place of each other. If you are co-infected with HIV-1 and hepatitis B and stop taking lamivudine, severe flare-ups of the hepatitis have been reported, so hepatic function should be monitored closely, with follow-up for several months, and starting separate anti-hepatitis B treatment may be needed.

Further reading