Hepatitis warnings with Epivir.New precautions precautions Infectious disease The constellation of activities intended to minimize exposure to an infectious agent; precautions imply that the isolation of an infected Pt is optional, but not mandatory. have been added to the labeling for Epivir (3TC), Combivir (Epivir + Retrovir), Trizivir (Epivir + Ziagen + Retrovir), and Epzicom (Epivir + Ziagen). Epivir has activity against both hepatitis B Hepatitis B Definition Hepatitis B is a potentially serious form of liver inflammation due to infection by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). It occurs in both rapidly developing (acute) and long-lasting (chronic) forms, and is one of the most common chronic (HBV HBV hepatitis B virus. HBV abbr. hepatitis B virus ) and HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. . Epivir is known as "Zeffix" when used to treat HBV. However, patients co-infected with HIV and HBV can have a severe flare-up of HBV when they stop taking Epivir. Liver function should be monitored closely for at least several months in these patients after stopping Epivir. Similar warnings were reported for Viread (see October 2004 HIV Treatment ALERTS!), and are likely the same for related drugs that have activity against both HIV and HBV. If you are co-infected with these viruses, be careful about abruptly stopping your needs and always discuss changing or stopping your needs with your healthcare provider before doing so. |
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