Generic Combivir (Lamivudine - Zidovudine)

Generic Combivir is in a group of medicines called reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It is used for treating HIV infection in combination with other medicines.

Lamivudine and Zidovudine tablet

What is this medicine?

LAMIVUDINE; ZIDOVUDINE is two antiretroviral drugs in one tablet. It is used with other medicines to treat HIV. This medicine is not a cure for HIV. It will not stop the spread of HIV to others.

What should my health care professional know before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

blood or bone marrow problems
kidney disease
liver disease
an unusual or allergic reaction to lamivudine, zidovudine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding

How should I take this medicine?

Take this medicine by mouth with a glass of water. You may take this medicine with or without food. Take your medicine at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. For your anti-HIV therapy to work as well as possible, take each dose exactly as prescribed. Do not skip doses or stop your medicine even if you feel better. Skipping doses may make the HIV virus resistant to this medicine and other medicines. Do not stop taking except on your doctor's advice.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as 12 years old for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you can. If it is almost time for your next dose, take only that dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

What may interact with this medicine?

atovaquone
doxorubicin
fluconazole
ganciclovir
interferon
methadone
nelfinavir
probenecid
ribavirin
ritonavir
stavudine
sulfamethoxazole; trimethoprim, SMX-TMP
trimethoprim
valproic acid
zalcitabine, ddC

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care providers a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medicine?

Visit your doctor or health care professional for regular check ups. Discuss any new symptoms with your doctor. You will need to have important blood work done while on this medicine.

HIV is spread to others through sexual or blood contact. Talk to your doctor about how to stop the spread of HIV.

If you have hepatitis B, talk to your doctor if you plan to stop or change your therapy. The symptoms of hepatitis B may get worse after you stop this medicine.

Do not treat severe stomach pain, nausea or vomiting with over-the-counter medicines. Contact your doctor.

This medicine can cause blood problems. You may have slow healing and a higher risk of infection while on this medicine. Try to avoid cutting or injuring yourself. Be careful not to damage to your teeth and gums when you brush or floss your teeth.

What side effects may I notice from this medicine?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

breathing difficulties
depression
fever, chills, or sore throat
muscle aches, pains, weakness
pain, tingling, numbness in the hands or feet
seizures
unusual bruising or bleeding
unusually weak or tired
weight gain around waist, back, or thinning of face, arms, legs

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

cough
diarrhea
difficulty sleeping
dizziness
headache
loss of appetite
nausea, vomiting
runny, stuffy nose
stomach pain, upset

This list may not describe all possible side effects.

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children.

Store between 2 and 30 degrees C (36 and 86 degrees F). Keep the container tightly closed. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Buy Generic Combivir

What is a generic medication?

Wikipedia gives the following definition:
“Generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without a brand name. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties. By extension, therefore, generics are assumed to be identical in dose, strength, route of administration, safety, efficacy, and intended use.”

Does a generic medication differ from a brand name drug?

Not much, actually. But there is a difference, of course. To see the difference more clearly we have made a table: click here

Comparison points	Comparison	Details
Active ingredient	same	Whether a manufacturer makes brand name drugs or generic drugs, the standards are the same. The ingredients are the most important element. The ingredient in the drug that helps cure you or make you feel better, is called the "medicinal" or active ingredient. While both generic and brand name drugs must have the same amounts of good quality medicinal ingredients, other ingredients are also found in drugs.
Effect	same	Since the active ingredient is the same, the effect produced by the generic drugs and the brand name drugs is the same.
Name	different	Generic medications cannot be manufactured under brand names since this is a copyright infringement case. Generics are usually named by their active ingredient names.
Shape	different	Shape of a pills is also a copyright of a brand, thus the shape of generic pills is different from the one of the original brand
Color	different	Color of a pills is also a copyright of a brand, thus the color of generic pills is different from the one of the original brand
Price	different	Generic medications are considerably cheaper than the brand name drugs.

Why are generic pills cheaper than the brand name ones?

The principal reason for the reduced price of generic medicines is that the creation of the generic drug runs up less cost and therefore a lower price can be offered and still maintain profitability.
Manufacturers of generic drugs are mainly able to avoid the following three costs that brand name pharmaceutical companies incur: (1) costs associated with the research and development of the drug; (2) costs associated obtaining regulatory approval (i.e. proving safety and efficacy of a drug); and (3) marketing costs.
First, Generic manufacturers do not incur the cost of drug discovery and instead reverse-engineer existing brand name drugs to allow them to manufacture bioequivalent versions.
Second, generic manufacturers do not bear the burden of proving the safety and efficacy of the drugs through clinical trials - rather, generic manufacturers must prove the generic drug’s bioequivalancy to the existing drug.
Third, these companies receive the large benefit of the marketing and advertising that goes into pushing the innovator drug. The brand name drug has to prove itself in the eyes of the consumer, generic ones do not. The drugs that generic manufacturers are selling have been on the market for usually a decade or more and do not need additional advertising. For the same reason, generic manufacturers also do not give away sample doses to promote their products. The significant research, development and marketing costs incurred by the large pharmaceutical companies in introducing a new drug to the market is often cited as the reason for the high cost of new agents - they wish to recover these costs before the patent expires. Generic manufacturers do not incur these costs, with bioequivalence testing and manufacturing costing relatively little, and are able to charge significantly less than the brand.

Where are the pills you offer shipped from?

The pills we offer are produced by Indian manufacturers. To make sure our entire product list is in stock, the orders are sent out directly by our manufacturer. Usually it takes approximately two weeks for an order to be delivered to your location but in some cases may take up to three weeks.

Are your pills FDA approved?

Since the medications we offer are produced in India they are approved by the Indian FDA. Our drug manufacturers perform a series of tests, both during and after production, to show that every drug meets the requirements for that product.