Duovir N Tablet contains the active ingredient Lamivudine + Nevirapine + Zidovudine. It is a combination of three antiretroviral medicines. Lamivudine and Zidovudine mainly belong to the class of medications called nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Nevirapine belongs to the class of medication called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It is used to treat HIV-1 infection.
This tablet is not advised for patients with anemia (low red blood cells) or neutropenia (low white blood cells). Inform your doctor if you have any liver disease, including hepatitis B or C, kidney disease, or are overweight. The administration of this tablet is associated with hematologic toxicity (decrease in blood cells), muscle weakness, liver diseases and infection, and lactic acidosis (acid buildup due to problems in the body's metabolism). This medication is not advised for children less than 35 kg. Lamivudine, Nevirapine, and zidovudine tablets may cause decreased fertility in females. Talk to your physician if you have any concerns about fertility.
Duovir N Tablet is not recommended if you are allergic to this drug or any other active substance or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding women. Inform your physician if you have liver issues, hepatitis infection, kidney diseases, or undergoing dialysis. Tell your physician if you have any active skin conditions such as rash. This tablet can interact with certain medications, potentially affecting their efficacy or increasing the risk of side effects. It's necessary to inform your doctor about all your medications, including prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal supplements, to ensure no potential interactions.
Uses of Duovir N Tablet
Therapeutic Effects of Duovir N Tablet
Duovir N Tablet is a combination of three antiretroviral medicines. Lamivudine and Zidovudine work by inhibiting the reverse transcriptase enzyme of HIV, restricting viral genome replication, and reducing the production of new infectious viral particles. It mainly interferes with reverse transcription and inhibits the spread of HIV. Nevirapine directly binds to reverse transcriptase (RT) and blocks RNA-dependent and DNA-dependent polymerase activities by disrupting the enzyme.
Interaction of Duovir N Tablet with other drugs
Inform your healthcare provider about all your medicines, including prescription, over-the-counter, nutritional, supplements, and herbal products. Certain medications, including ganciclovir, interferon alfa, and ribavirin, may exacerbate the toxicity of zidovudine interaction with Duovir N Tablet and reduce its effectiveness by causing undesirable side effects.
More Information about Duovir N Tablet
How to consume Duovir N Tablet
Take the Duovir N Tablet as advised by your physician. Swallow the tablets whole and intact. This tablet should be taken with food. Do not crush, chew, or open the medicine. Your physician will decide the correct dosage and duration based on age, body weight, and disease condition. Only stop taking the medicine if your doctor advises you to stop.
Safety Advices for Duovir N Tablet
Pregnancy
Do not take Duovir N Tablet if you are in your first trimester because this may harm the unborn baby. Inform your physician if you are pregnant, suspecting, or planning to get pregnant during the treatment.
Breast Feeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended in patients taking Duovir N Tablet because the medicine passes into the breast milk in small amounts and may harm your baby. Do not breastfeed during the treatment.
Lungs
It is unknown whether Duovir N Tablet is safe for patients with lung diseases. Inform your physician if you have any lung diseases before initiating the therapy.
Liver
Duovir N Tablet should be cautiously used in patients with liver diseases. Dose adjustments are necessary. However, inform your physician of any liver diseases before initiating the therapy.
Alcohol
It is unknown whether consuming alcohol while taking Duovir N Tablet is safe. Please speak with your physician.
Driving
It is unknown whether Duovir N Tablet alters the ability to drive or operate heavy machinery. If you feel sleepy or dizzy, avoid driving and consult your doctor.
Side Effects of Duovir N Tablet
Side effects are unwanted symptoms caused by medicines. Even though all drugs cause side effects, not everyone gets them.
Serious
- Lactic acidosis (breathing difficulties along with weakness in limbs, stomach pain, vomiting, and drowsiness)
- Severe skin reactions and rash (blisters, red or inflamed eyes, swelling of the face, mouth sores, joint aches, fever, tiredness)
- Liver problems (yellowing of skin, eyes, fever, tea-colored urine, light-colored stools, pain in right side of ribs, loss of appetite)
- Osteonecrosis (stiffness and pain in joints, difficulty moving)
- Symptoms of muscle weakness or infection
- Loss of fat from legs, face, and arms
Common
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Headache, dizziness
- Cough
- Difficulty sleeping
Word of Advice
Follow your doctor's instructions concerning high-risk activities such as unprotected sex and personal items with body fluids or blood on them, like toothbrushes, razor blades, and needles. It is advised to practice safe sex by using a condom to lower the chance of sexual contact with semen, blood, or vaginal secretions. If you forgot to take the Duovir N Tablet, take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
FAQs
Q 1. Can I stop taking Duovir N Tablet once I feel better?
No, continuing this Duovir N Tablet as prescribed is important, even if you feel better. Stopping or interrupting treatment can lead to viral rebound and the development of drug resistance.
Q 2. Can Duovir N Tablet cure HIV?
No, Duovir N Tablet cannot cure HIV. They are used as part of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) to suppress the virus, improve the immune system, and prevent the progression of HIV infection. ART is a lifelong treatment for HIV.
Q 3. Can Duovir N Tablet prevent HIV transmission during unprotected sex?
While Duovir N Tablet is effective in managing HIV infection in individuals who are already HIV-positive, they are not intended to prevent HIV transmission. It is necessary to use preventive measures like condoms to reduce the chance of acquiring HIV.
Q 4. Does Duovir N Tablet cause bone marrow suppression?
Yes, this Duovir N Tablet may cause bone marrow suppression. Inform your physician if you experience any changes in your blood reports, such as increased or decreased RBC and WBC.
Q 5. Can Duovir N Tablet be given to kidney failure patients?
Duovir N Tablet should be mainly used with caution in patients with kidney diseases. Inform your physician if you have any kidney diseases before initiating the treatment.
Fact Box of Duovir N Tablet
Molecule name: Lamivudine + Nevirapine + Zidovudine | Therapeutic class: Anti-retroviral |
Pharmacological class: Lamivudine + Zidovudine - Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) Nevirapine - Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (Non-NRTI) | Indications: HIV-1 infection |