Zerit

Generic Name: Stavudine
Brand Names: Zerit

Zerit (Stavudine) is used for:

Treating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines.

Zerit (Stavudine) is a nucleoside analogue antiviral. It blocks the growth of HIV.

Do NOT use Zerit (Stavudine) if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Zerit (Stavudine)
• you are taking zidovudine
• you have abnormal liver function tests, an enlarged liver, or lactic acidosis

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Zerit (Stavudine) :

Some medical conditions may interact with Zerit (Stavudine). Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney or liver problems, inflammation of the pancreas, gallstones, or problems with tingling or numbness in your hands or feet, or if you drink alcohol

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Zerit (Stavudine). Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Methadone or zidovudine because the effectiveness of Zerit (Stavudine) may be decreased
• Didanosine because the risk of side effects, including lactic acidosis, may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Zerit (Stavudine) may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Zerit (Stavudine) :

Use Zerit (Stavudine) as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Zerit (Stavudine) may be taken with or without food.
• Zerit (Stavudine) comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Zerit (Stavudine) refilled.
• Continue to take Zerit (Stavudine) even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Zerit (Stavudine) , take it as soon as possible. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Zerit (Stavudine).

Important safety information:

• Zerit (Stavudine) offers no protection from the transmission of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Use barrier forms of contraception (eg, condoms) if you are infected with HIV. Do not share needles, other injection equipment, or personal items such as toothbrushes or razor blades.
• Zerit (Stavudine) is not a cure for HIV infection and patients may continue to acquire illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
• When your medicine supply begins to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. The virus may develop resistance to Zerit (Stavudine) and become more difficult to treat if you stop taking it, even for a short period of time.
• Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking Zerit (Stavudine) (eg, increased fat in upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor, as well as the possible role of exercise to reduce this side effect.
• LAB TESTS, including liver or kidney function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Zerit (Stavudine) may decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pill. To prevent pregnancy, be sure to use an additional form of birth control while using Zerit (Stavudine).
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is unknown if Zerit (Stavudine) can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Zerit (Stavudine) during pregnancy. It is unknown if Zerit (Stavudine) is excreted in breast milk. HIV-infected mothers should not breastfeed their infants because of the risk of transmitting the HIV infection or Zerit (Stavudine).

Possible side effects of Zerit (Stavudine) :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Changes in body fat; constipation; diarrhea; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chills; dark urine; fever; lactic acid imbalance (general body discomfort, cold feeling, dizziness, lightheadedness, slow or irregular heartbeat); muscle aches or weakness; numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet; prolonged nausea and vomiting; rapid breathing; shortness of breath; sore throat; stomach pain; sudden weight loss; unusual tiredness or weakness; weakness in the arms or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

Where to find the shelf life of the medicines?

• The expiration date can be found on each blister. It is different for different batches. The usual shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture but it may differ from batch to batch depending on date they were manufactured.