NUCLEOSIDE
ANALOGUES
Nucleoside Analogue: This is a class of drugs that
fight HIV by interfering with the virus's ability to make a key enzyme called
"reverse transcriptase." AZT was the first nucleoside analogue
licensed, and many others, such as ddI, ddC, d4T, and 3TC have followed it.
These drugs act at the DNA level. They also affect normal cell growth, such as
bone marrow cells, so there can be significant toxic effects.
|
Generic |
Dose |
Common Side EffectsComments |
|
Abacavir
(ABC)
Ziagen |
300 mg twice daily |
About 4% hypersensitivity reaction: fever
malaise possible rash GI respiratory. Resolves within 2 days after
discontinuation. DO NOT RESTART. Also: rash alone without
hypersensitivity. |
|
Didanosine
(ddI)
Videx EC |
400-mg capsule once daily on empty stomach
(>60 kg body weight) |
Peripheral neuropathy in 15% rare
pancreatitis; avoid alcohol. OK to take Videx EC at same time as
other antiretrovirals that can be taken on an empty stomach. Older
chewable tablet formulation has additional restrictions. |
|
Lamivudine
(3TC)
Epivir |
150 mg twice daily |
Generally well tolerated. Active against
HBV |
|
Emtricitabine
(FTC)
Emtriva |
200 mg
capsule once a day with or without food |
Side
effects generally mild to moderate - headache, diarrhoea, nausea and rash.
Skin discolouration (hyperpigmentation) seen in non-Causcasian people |
|
Stavudine
(d4T)
Zerit |
40 mg twice daily (>60 kg body weight) |
Peripheral neuropathy (1%-4% in early
studies; 24% in expanded access patients with CD4+ counts <50). |
|
Zalcitabine
(ddC)
Hivid |
0.375-0.75 mg 3 times daily |
Peripheral neuropathy in 17%-31% of trial
participants; oral ulcers. Used rarely due to toxicity inconvenient dosing
and questions regarding efficacy |
|
Kivexa
(3TC, Abacavir) |
1 tablet onca a day |
The most common side
effects of epzicom are the same as with abacavir (ziagen) and Epivir
(3TC). They include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and headaches. |
|
Zidovudine
(ZDV,AZT) Retrovir |
300 mg twice daily |
Initial nausea headache fatigue anaemia
neutropenia neuropathy myopathy |
|
ZDV
+ 3TC Combivir |
1 tablet twice daily |
Combination tablet containing 300 mg of ZDV
and 150 mg of 3TC |
|
ZDV
+ 3TC + ABC
Trizivir |
1 tablet twice daily |
Combination tablet containing 300 mg of ZDV
150 mg of 3TC and 300 mg of abacavir |
