What is the most important information I should know about zalcitabine?
Zalcitabine may cause
lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic
acidosis symptoms can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual
muscle
pain and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heart rate, nausea, vomiting,
stomach pain,
and numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Call your doctor at once if you have any of
these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse
over time and this condition can be fatal.
Zalcitabine can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver or
pancreas.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms while taking zalcitabine: severe pain
in your upper stomach spreading to your back, fast heart rate,
nausea and vomiting,
diarrhea,
loss
of appetite, low
fever,
dark urine,
clay-colored stools, or
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
Before taking this medication, tell your doctor if you have
kidney disease,
liver
disease, a history of
pancreatitis, or if you have used a medicine similar to zalcitabine in the past,
such as
abacavir (Ziagen),
didanosine (Videx),
lamivudine (Epivir),
stavudine (Zerit),
tenofovir
(Viread), or
zidovudine (Retrovir).
HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your
condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication
guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses
or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS
should remain under the care of a doctor.
Taking zalcitabine will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through
unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing
HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine
needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.
What is zalcitabine?
Zalcitabine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
cells from multiplying in your body.
Zalcitabine is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
(AIDS). Zalcitabine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.
Zalcitabine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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