What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking lamivudine and zidovudine?
You should not take this medicine if you are allergic to lamivudine. Do not take Combivir with any other medicine that contains lamivudine, zidovudine, or emtricitabine. This includes Atripla, Biktarvy, Cimduo, Combivir, Complera, Descovy, Emtriva, Epzicom, Genvoya, Odefsey, Retrovir, Stribild, Symfi, Triumeq, Trizivir, and Truvada.
Lamivudine and zidovudine can also cause severe or fatal liver problems. Tell your doctor if you have liver disease, especially hepatitis B.
Lamivudine and zidovudine should not be used to treat HIV in adolescents weighing less than 66 pounds.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- kidney disease;
- pancreas disorder (especially in a child taking this medicine); or
- if you take ribavirin to treat hepatitis C.
You may develop lactic acidosis, a dangerous build-up of lactic acid in your blood. This may be more likely if you have other medical conditions, if you've taken HIV medication for a long time, or if you are a woman. Ask your doctor about your risk.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, and use your medications properly to control your infection. HIV can be passed to your baby if the virus is not controlled during pregnancy. Your name may be listed on a registry to track any effects of antiviral medicine on the baby.
Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.