Taking it

3TC (lamivudine, Epivir) can be taken once or twice daily. Once-daily dosing involves taking one 300mg tablet, and twice-daily dosing involves taking two 150mg tablets 12 hours apart. 3TC can be taken either with food or on an empty stomach. Once-daily dosing of 3TC produces the same effects in the body as twice-daily dosing, and it is safe to switch between these regimens.1 2 3

An oral solution of 3TC is available at a concentration of 10mg/ml.

As with all anti-HIV drugs, it is important to take the drug as prescribed in order to maintain the right level of the drug in the blood. If blood levels of the drug fall too low, this will help the development of resistance to 3TC and may affect future treatment options.

The dose of 3TC should be reduced in patients with moderate to severe kidney disease. For this reason, these patients should not take fixed-dose combinations containing 3TC.

References

  1. de Jesus E et al. Once-daily versus twice-daily lamivudine, in combination with zidovudine and efavirenz, for the treatment of antiretroviral-naive adults with HIV infection: a randomized equivalence trial. Clin Infect Dis 39: 411-418, 2004
  2. Sension M et al. Efficacy and safety of switch to 3TC 300mg QD vs continued 3TC 150mg bid in subjects with virologic suppression on stable 3TC / d4T / PI therapy (COLA4005): final 24 week results. Eighth Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections, Chicago, abstract 317, 2001
  3. Yuen GJ et al. Equivalence of plasma and intracellular triphosphate lamivudine pharmacokinetics (PK) following lamivudine (3TC) 300 mg once daily compared to lamivudine 150 mg twice a day in healthy volunteers. Fifth International Congress in Drug Therapy in HIV Infection, Glasgow, abstract P269, 2000
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.