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Zalcitabine |
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What is Zalcitabine and why is it prescribed? Zalcitabine is one of the drugs used against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Zalcitabine staves off collapse of the immune system by interfering with the virus's ability to reproduce. Zalcitabine is often combined with a protease inhibitor as part of the "cocktail" of drugs that has proven so effective in halting or even reversing the progress of HIV. Zalcitabine can also be combined with the HIV drug Retrovir, provided you have not already been taking Retrovir for more than 3 months. For people with advanced cases of HIV, Zalcitabine is sometimes prescribed by itself when other drugs don't work or can't be tolerated. Although Zalcitabine can slow the progress of HIV, it is not a cure. Be sure to notify your doctor immediately if you experience any changes in your general health. How should you take Zalcitabine? Follow your doctors directions for taking Zalcitabine. Zalcitabine should be taken every 8 hours, exactly as prescribed. It is important to keep levels of Zalcitabine in your body as constant as possible, so be sure to take every scheduled dose. Never take more than the prescribed dose, nerve disorders could result. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take two doses at once. Store Zalcitabine at room temperature in a tightly closed bottle. Are there any Zalcitabine side effects? Zalcitabine side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Although side effects can never be predicted, they are more likely, and more apt to be severe, in people with an advanced case of HIV. More common Zalcitabine side effects may include abdominal pain, fatigue, hives, itching, mouth sores and inflammation, nausea and vomiting, rash, tingling, burning, numbness, or pain in the hands and feet. Less common Zalcitabine side effects may include constipation, convulsions, diarrhea, fever, and headache. There have been isolated reports of an extremely wide variety of additional problems occurring during Zalcitabine therapy. Whether these problems were caused by the drug remains unclear. It is important to check with your doctor whenever any unexplained symptom develops. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Zalcitabine? If Zalcitabine is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. A number of drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy and should not be taken with Zalcitabine. The list includes Chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin), Cisplatin (Platinol), Dapsone, Disulfiram (Antabuse), Ethionamide (Trecator-SC), Glutethimide, Gold, Hydralazine, Iodoquinol (Yodoxin), Isoniazid (Nydrazid), Metronidazole (Flagyl), Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin), Phenytoin (Dilantin), Ribavirin (Virazole), and Vincristine (Oncovin). Several other drugs should be either avoided or taken with caution while on Zalcitabine therapy. Check with your doctor before taking Aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as Garamycin), Amphotericin B (Fungizone), Antacids containing magnesium and aluminum (including Maalox and Mylanta), Cimetidine (Tagamet), Didanosine (Videx), Foscarnet (Foscavir), Metoclopramide, Pentamidine (Pentam), or Probenecid. Are there any special warnings about Zalcitabine? If you have an advanced case of HIV, there is a one-in-three chance that Zalcitabine will cause a serious nerve disorder called peripheral neuropathy. The first signs of this problem are numbness, tingling, and burning pain in the hands and feet. Check with your doctor as soon as any of these symptoms develop. If you continue to take Zalcitabine, they will be followed by episodes of intense, sharp, shooting pain or severe, continuous, burning pain, and the condition could become irreversible. If Zalcitabine is stopped promptly, the symptoms will gradually disappear. Much more rarely, Zalcitabine has been known to cause a dangerous inflammation of the pancreas, especially in people who have previously had the problem. The chief signs are bouts of severe abdominal pain accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms develop, call your doctor without delay. Zalcitabine therapy must be discontinued permanently. Other rare but dangerous side effects to watch for include liver failure, weakening of the heart, and ulcers in the mouth and the canal to the stomach. Kidney disease increases the risk of these side effects. If you've ever had kidney, liver, or heart problems, have hepatitis, or tend to abuse alcohol, be sure your doctor is aware of the situation. If you develop a liver problem, treatment with Zalcitabine may have to be stopped. Like other HIV drugs, Zalcitabine sometimes causes a redistribution of body fat. |
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Information on this website is provided for educational purposes and should not replace discussions with your doctor. |
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