ADHD Treatments Under the Spotlight: Weighing Benefits and Harms
November 28, 2025
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Brand Name :
Trizivir
Synonyms :
lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir
Class :
HIV, ART Combos
Brand Name :
Trizivir
Synonyms :
lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir
Class :
HIV, ART Combos
Dosage forms & Strengths:
Adult:
Tablet
150mg/300mg/300mg (lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir)
Indicated for the usage with other antiretrovirals as a combination
:
1 tablet orally every 12 hours
Not recommended for people below 40 kg
Tablet
150mg/300mg/300mg (lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir)
Indicated for the usage with other antiretrovirals as a combination
:
1 tablet orally every 12 hours
Not recommended for people below 40 kgs
Refer to the adult dosing
Actions and Spectrum:
lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir act to reduce viral load in the blood. It slows the progression of the disease. The combination of these drugs is used in antiretroviral therapy (ART) to help control the virus and improve the overall health of people living with HIV.
>10%:
Headache
Nausea
Fatigue
Vomiting
Malaise
1-10%:
Anxiety
Fever
Rash
Diarrhea
Depression
Neutropenia
Increased ALT
Increased CPK
Viral infection
Nose infection
Ear infection
Throat infection
Frequency not defined:
Pancreatitis
Fat redistribution
GGT increased
Immune reconstitution syndrome
Black Box Warning:
It is essential to follow the dosage and administration instructions for the medication carefully.
Contraindications:
The drug is contraindicated in
Hypersensitivity to the components in the combination.
Severe liver dysfunction.
Cautions:
People with liver problems should use the drug cautiously and be closely monitored by a healthcare provider.
People with high levels of lactate in the blood should also use the drug cautiously as it can worsen this condition.
The drug may interact with other medications, so it’s essential to inform the healthcare provider about all medications being taken.
Pregnancy consideration:
The drug is not safe during pregnancy.
Breastfeeding warnings:
The drug is secreted in breast milk. The effect on lactating infants is unknown. But the women with HIV infection should not lactate.
Pregnancy category:
Category A: well-controlled and Satisfactory studies do not show risk to the fetus in the first/later trimester.
Category B: there was no evidence of risk to the fetus in animal studies, and there were not enough studies on pregnant women.
Category C: there was evidence of risk of adverse effects in animal reproduction studies, and no adequate evidence in human studies must take care of potential risks in pregnant women.
Category D: adequate data available with sufficient evidence of human fetal risk from various platforms, but despite the potential risk, and used only in emergency cases for potential benefits.
Category X: Drugs listed in this category outweigh the risks over benefits. Hence these categories of drugs need to be avoided by pregnant women.
Category N: No data is available for the drug under this category.
Pharmacology
Pharmacology of abacavir:
abacavir works by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is essential for the replication of the virus.
It is converted into its active form, carbovir triphosphate, by cellular kinases. It further competes with the natural substrate, deoxyadenosine triphosphate. It binds to incorporate into the growing viral DNA chain.
This results in the termination of the viral DNA chain and inhibition of viral replication.
Pharmacology of lamivudine:
lamivudine is a NRTI nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor that works by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme, which is necessary for the replication of the HIV. When lamivudine is incorporated into the viral DNA, it causes the termination of DNA synthesis and the death of the virus.
It is converted into its active form, lamivudine-triphosphate, by cellular kinases.
lamivudine-triphosphate competes with deoxythymidine triphosphate. It incorporates into the growing viral DNA chain. It leads to the termination of the viral DNA chain and inhibition of viral replication.
Pharmacology of zidovudine:
zidovudine is also an NRTI, and it works similarly to lamivudine by blocking the reverse transcriptase enzyme. By inhibiting the enzyme, the replication of the HIV is reduced, leading to a decrease in the viral load.
Pharmacodynamics:
When taken together, these three drugs provide a combination of two NRTIs and one NNRTI that work together to reduce the amount of virus in the blood (viral load) and slow the progression of the disease. The combination of these drugs also helps to reduce the development of drug resistance and improve the overall health of people living with HIV.
Pharmacokinetics:
The pharmacokinetics of lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir is described as
Absorption:
lamivudine and zidovudine are well absorbed orally, with peak concentrations occurring 2-3 hours after dosing. Abacavir is also well absorbed orally, with peak concentrations occurring 2-3 hours after dosing.
Distribution:
lamivudine and zidovudine are widely distributed in the body, with high levels in the plasma, lymphocytes, and tissues. Abacavir is also widely distributed in the body, but it does not concentrate in red blood cells to the same extent as the other two drugs.
Metabolism:
lamivudine is primarily metabolized in the liver by glucuronidation and oxidation. zidovudine is primarily metabolized in the liver by glucuronidation. Abacavir is primarily metabolized in the liver by glucuronidation.
Elimination:
lamivudine and zidovudine are primarily eliminated in the urine as unchanged drugs and metabolites. abacavir is primarily eliminated in the urine as an unchanged drug and metabolite.
Administration:
Administer the medication orally as a tablet.
Patient information leaflet
Generic Name: lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir
Pronounced: la-MIV-ue-deen/ a-BAK-a-vir/ zy-do-vu-deen
Why do we use lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir?
lamivudine/zidovudine/abacavir helps in managing HIV infection.
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