Epivir (Lamivudine) for HIV

Overview
Epivir is a prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat HIV-1 infection in combination with other antiretroviral medications. Epivir is also referred to by its drug name, Lamivudine, and by the abbreviation 3TC. Lamivudine is a component in the combination drugs Epzicom, Triumeq, Trizivir, and Combivir.

Epivir is an antiviral medication of the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. Epivir is believed to work by preventing HIV from replicating in cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Epivir is taken once or twice daily. Epivir comes in tablet and oral solution forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Epivir lists common side effects including headache, nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, cold symptoms such as cough and runny or stuffy nose, dizziness, fatigue, and changes in the shape or location of body fat. Rare but serious side effects listed for Epivir include lactic acidosis (a metabolic disorder), hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), and severe exacerbations of Hepatitis B.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Epivir – RxList

Overview of HIV Treatments – AIDS.gov