Antiretroviral Drugs Currently Available (1)

 

 

Class

Drug

Also called

Dosing Regimen

Dosing instructions

Toxicity

NRTIs

AZT

Zidovudine

1x250mg b.d.

-

Nausea and vomitting; headache; anaemia, neutropaenia; hepatitis; pancreatitis; lactic acidosis

 

 

ddI

Didanosine

100mg: 2 b.d. or 4 o.d.

fast 2 hours before & 30 mins after

 

see AZT + GI upset

 

ddC

Zalcitabine

1.125mg b.d or 0.75mg t.d.s

 

-

see AZT + peripheral neuropathy

 

3TC

Lamivudine

1x150mg b.d.

 

-

see AZT

 

AZT+3TC

Combivir

1 b.d.

 

-

see AZT

 

d4T

Stavudine

1x40mg b.d.

-

see AZT + peripheral neuropathy

 

 

Abacavir

 

1x300mg b.d.

 

-

see AZT; fatal hypersensitivity

 

NB: 3TC also active against Hepatitis B virus (consider effect on HBV and liver in HIV+ and HBeAg +ve patients)

 


Antiretroviral Drugs Currently Available (2)

 

 

Class

Drug

Also called

Dosing Regimen

Dosing instructions

Toxicity

NNRTIs

Nevirapine

 

200mg: b.d.

Initially 200mg od for first 2 weeks; escalate to full dose if no rash or hepatitis

 

Rash, fever, hepatitis

 

Efavirenz

DMP266

600mg o.n.

-

Sleep & mood changes, rash

 

Protease Inhibitors

Saquinavir

soft gel capsules

Fortovase

1600mg b.d.

With food

Lipodystrophy; diabetes hypercholesterolaemia; hypertriglyceridaemia, hepatitis

 

 

Ritonavir

 

600mg b.d.

-

See saquinavir + GI upset; paraesthesia

 

 

Indinavir

 

800mg t.d.s

Fast/ low fat meal 2 hours before & 30 mins after; drink 1.5l/d

 

See saquinavir + kidney stones, dry skin and hair loss

 

Nelfinavir

 

1250mg b.d.

-With food

See saquinavir + diarrhoea

 

 

Amprenavir

 

1200mg b.d.

 

See saquinavir + rash; diarrhoea