Combivir (Retrovir + Epivir)

Classification:

Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI)

• NRTI Fact Sheet

Form:

Tablet containing 300mg Retrovir and 150mg of Epivir (white; oval).

Dosage:

One tablet twice each day.

Instructions:

• May take with or without food.
• Take the medication the same times each day.
• Because of the possibility of anemia while taking Combivir, it's important to keep all of your doctor's visits in order to monitor your blood count.

Side Effects To Report To Your Doctor:

• headache
• nausea / vomiting / diarrhea
• fatigue or weakness (resolves after taking Combivir for 2-4 weeks).
• nasal symptoms (runny nose, cold symptoms)
• anemia (low blood count) causing fatigue, tiredness, weakness, and shortness of breath that gets progressively worse over time.
• abdominal pain
• mental confusion (rare)

Medication Side Effects and How To Get Rid of Them

Drug Interactions or Incompatibility:

• Because Zerit will decrease the effectiveness of Retrovir, Combivir should not be taken in a regimen containing Zerit.
• The individual drugs Epivir and Retrovir should not be taken in combination with Combivir.

For More Information:

To learn more about Combivir, try About.com's Drug Finder.

More HIV Medication Fact Sheets