Some medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:Doxorubicin, ganciclovir, interferon-alfa, ribavirin, sorbitol, stavudine, or zalcitabineSteroid or cancer treatment
Tell your doctor if you use doxorubicin (Adriamycin®), ganciclovir (Cytovene®), interferon-alfa (Intron®-A, Roferon®-A), ribavirin (Virazole®), stavudine (Zerit®), or zalcitabine (Hivid®). Make sure your doctor knows if you use medicines that weaken your immune system, such as a steroid or cancer treatment.
This medicine may make you bleed, bruise, or get infections more easily. Take precautions to prevent illness and injury. Wash your hands often.
This medicine may cause a muscle disease called myopathy. Check with your doctor if you have muscle pain, swelling, tenderness, wasting, or weakness while you use this medicine.
Lactic acidosis (too much acid in the blood) and liver toxicity are rare but serious reactions to this medicine. These are more common if you are female, obese, or have been taking anti-HIV medicines for a long time. Call your doctor right away if you have more than one of these symptoms: stomach pain; dark urine; decreased appetite; diarrhea; general feeling of discomfort; light-colored stools; muscle pain; nausea; unusual tiredness or weakness; trouble breathing; vomiting; or yellow eyes or skin.
Pancreatitis may occur while you use this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have sudden and severe stomach pain, chills, constipation, nausea, vomiting, fever, or lightheadedness.
Your immune system may get stronger when you start taking HIV medicines. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any changes in your health. Sometimes the immune system will start to fight infections that were hidden in your body, such as pneumonia, herpes, or tuberculosis.
This medicine may cause changes to your body fat. Tell your doctor right away if you notice changes in your body shape, such as more fat in your neck or upper back or around your chest or stomach area. You may also lose fat from your legs, arms, or face.
This medicine will not keep you from giving HIV to others. Always practice safe sex, even if your partner also has HIV. Do not share needles or other items that may have blood or body fluids on them.
Your doctor will do lab tests at regular visits to check on the effects of this medicine. Keep all appointments. You may need tests for several months after you stop using this medicine if you also have hepatitis.