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NAME
Stavudine, d4t |
BRAND
Zerit |
CLASS
Nucleoside analog (also called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, NRTI or nuke) |
COST
$3,960/yr., $330/month |
STANDARD DOSE
One 40 mg capsule twice a day for people weighing 132 pounds (60kg) or more, or one 30 mg capsule twice a day for people weighing less; no food restrictions. Available in 15 mg, 20 mg, 30 mg, and 40 mg capsules. Also powder for oral solutions. Take missed dose as soon as possible, but do not double the dose. |
POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS
Headache, chills/fever, malaise (overall ill feeling, as with fatigue or a flu) insomnia, anxiety, depression, rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and peripheral neuropathy (tingling, burning, numbness or pain in the hands or feet, indicating nerve damage that can be reversible but could become permanent if not treated in time, and that may be debilitating and painful) Symptoms may persist after stopping the drug. If symptoms go away from stopping Zerit, you can consider starting Zerit again at a smaller dose. Caregivers of young children should be instructed regarding noticing and reporting peripheral neuropathy. Adverse reactions and serious lavatory abnormalities in pediatric patients were similar in type and frequency to those seen in adults. Rare but potentially fatal toxicity with all NRTIs: pancreatitis (signs include nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain that often spreads to the chest and back) lactic acidosis (seen mostly in women, especially obsess women; greater risk for people with underlying liver diseases, signs include deep muscle fatigue, especially in legs, and difficulty breathing) and enlarged, fatty liver (called heptomegaly with steatosis; check for tenderness below ribs on right side.) |
POTENTIAL DRUG INTERACTIONS
Drugs such as Fungizone (amphotericin B) Foscavir (foscarnet), and dapsone may increase the risk of developing peripheral neuropathy. Cytovene and Vitrasert (ganciclovir) and intravenous Pentam (pentamidine) may increase the risk of pancreatitis. To be used with caution by people with pre-existing bone marrow suppression, renal insufficiency or perheral neuropathy. When combined, Videx and hydroxyurea may increase risk of pancreatitis. AZT and Zerit shouldn't be used together due to evidence that one limits the other's bioavailability level in the test tube. |
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