ZALCITABINE

Zalcitabine is a drug that belongs to a class of medicines known as synthetic nucleoside analogues of deoxycytidine, a naturally occurring nucleoside. Deoxycytidine is a reverse transcriptase inhibitor which acts against retroviruses such as HIV.

Zalcitabine is used in the treatment of HIV infection along with other antiretrovirals.

Zalcitabine should not be used in people with the following conditions:

  • Hypersensitivity
  • Lactation
  • Peripheral neuropathy or at risk of peripheral neuropathy

Zalcitabine may have the following side effects:

  • Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, sharp shooting pain)
  • Oral and esophageal ulceration
  • Hypersensitivity reactions
  • Cardiomyopathy and heart failure
  • Asthenia
  • Chest pain
  • Fatigue
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhoea
  • Mood changes
  • Fat redistribution
  • Fever
  • CNS and GI effects
  • Haematologic effects
  • Arthralgia
  • Myalgia
  • Dyspnoea
  • Pharyngitis
  • Alopoecia
  • Pruritus
  • Rashes
  • Hearing
  • Visual
  • Renal disturbances
  • Increased liver function tests
  • Hyperuricaemia
  • Liver failure
  • Lactic acidosis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Severe hepatomegaly with steatosis

Precautions

Extra caution should be observed in people with the following conditions:

  • History of pancreatitis or raised serum amylase
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Heart failure
  • Renal or hepatic impairment

 

Interactions

Zalcitabine may interact with the following medicines:

  • Aluminium or magnesium containing antacids
  • Metoclopramide
  • Cimetidine
  • Probenecid
  • Amphotericin B
  • Aminoglycosides
  • Foscarnet
  • Doxorubicin
  • Lamivudine
  • Didanosine
  • Stavudine
  • IV pentamidine
  • Zidovudine
  • Chloramphenicol
  • Dapsone
  • Bortezomib
  • Trimethoprim
  • Ethionamide
  • Metronidazole
  • Nitrofurantoin
  • Ribavarin
  • Vincristine
  • Isoniazid

If you think you have used Zalcitabine more than the usual dose, seek medical help immediately.

 

Available Brand:

  • Hivid

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