Lamivudine
Lamivudine is an antiviral for HIV and chronic hepatitis B, sold as 150mg Epivir and 100mg Epivir Hbv tablets and in the Triumeq and Viropil combination tablets.
Epivir Hbv
Lamivudine
100mg
Epivir Hbv comes as generic lamivudine 100mg tablets, a once-daily antiviral for chronic hepatitis B. Order 30 to 180 tablets.
What lamivudine treats
Lamivudine lowers the amount of HIV in the blood. It sits in the nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) group — medicines that block reverse transcriptase, the viral enzyme HIV uses to copy its genetic code. HIV has no cure and lamivudine does not clear it, but a daily dose keeps the virus suppressed and lowers the chance of AIDS-related illness. Chronic hepatitis B, a long-term infection of the liver, is the other condition it treats. Either way it is a medicine you stay on rather than a short course.
Taking it day to day
One tablet a day is the usual pattern; food makes no difference, and the tablet is swallowed whole with a drink. Because these antivirals work best when the level in the blood stays steady, it helps to tie the dose to something that already happens at the same time — the kettle going on in the morning, or lights out at night. A heavy meal will not cancel the dose, but missed doses are a real problem: HIV and hepatitis B both develop resistance to lamivudine when it is taken in fits and starts, and resistant virus is harder to treat later.
Side effects
Headache, diarrhoea, a blocked nose, trouble sleeping, low mood and tiredness are what people notice most, and they often ease as the body adjusts. A rash can be the first sign of an allergic reaction and is not something to wait out. Ongoing stomach pain that spreads to the back points to pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas) and needs prompt attention. Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet can also appear, and a rare build-up of lactic acid causes nausea, weakness and fast breathing. As the immune system strengthens on treatment, infections already in the body can flare with new or worsening symptoms.
Epivir, Epivir Hbv, Triumeq and Viropil
The two single-ingredient tablets differ by strength and use. Epivir is 150mg lamivudine, the strength used in HIV regimens, where it is normally taken with other antivirals. Epivir Hbv is 100mg lamivudine, sold for chronic hepatitis B. The other two build lamivudine into a fixed-dose tablet for HIV: Triumeq, 600/50/300mg, adds abacavir and dolutegravir, while Viropil, 50/300/300mg, adds dolutegravir and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. Each of the combinations replaces several separate tablets with one.
Stopping, storage and interactions
In hepatitis B, stopping lamivudine suddenly can make the infection flare, which is one reason treatment is long term. Keep tablets in their original blister or bottle in a cool, dry spot away from children. Lamivudine is not taken with emtricitabine, an antiviral so similar that the two would duplicate each other, and co-trimoxazole (an antibiotic combination) raises the amount of lamivudine in the blood.
Sources
- What Are HIV and AIDS? — U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Lamivudine: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / National Library of Medicine
Where can I order Lamivudine for delivery in Hong Kong?
Lamivudine can be ordered online for delivery to Hong Kong. The range covers generic Epivir 150mg tablets, generic Epivir Hbv 100mg tablets, and combination tablets including generic Triumeq and Viropil. Every order ships in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing on the outside about the contents.
How much does Lamivudine cost?
Prices vary between the four lamivudine products and between pack sizes. Every product page lists its current prices in HKD or in the currency you choose.
Do I need a prescription to order Lamivudine?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order lamivudine. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for lamivudine?
Epivir is a brand name of lamivudine, which is also sold as Zeffix. Here, lamivudine can be bought online as generic Epivir. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does lamivudine take to work?
It starts lowering the virus within days, but you will not feel it working. The drop shows up in blood tests taken over the following weeks and months, not in how you feel from one day to the next. Taken steadily, it keeps the virus suppressed for as long as you continue.
Is Triumeq just lamivudine under another name?
No. Triumeq contains lamivudine together with abacavir and dolutegravir, three HIV medicines in one tablet, while Epivir and Epivir Hbv contain lamivudine alone. Taking Triumeq means the lamivudine dose is already built in, so a separate lamivudine tablet is not added on top.
Can lamivudine be used for both HIV and hepatitis B?
Yes. Lamivudine is used against both viruses, and the strength follows the infection: 150mg Epivir for HIV, where it is combined with other antivirals, and 100mg Epivir Hbv for chronic hepatitis B. Regular misses give either virus the chance to become resistant.
Can I stop lamivudine when my viral load is undetectable?
No. Undetectable means the drug is suppressing the virus, not that the virus has gone. HIV comes back within weeks of stopping, and hepatitis B can flare suddenly, so lamivudine is taken long term.