Stavir – Stavudine

ABOUT STAVIR

Stavir belongs to a group of drugs called as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by inhibiting multiplication of viruses thus decreasing their levels in the infected patient. It is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

MEDICINE USES :

Cipla Stavudine is used in combination with other anti-viral drugs in the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. It does not cure the infection, but prevents the spread of HIV and HIV-related illnesses such as suppression of immunity, cancer and other infections.

STAVUDINE SIDE EFFECTS :

    muscle pain or weakness; numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs; trouble breathing;
    feeling dizzy, light-headed, tired, or very weak; stomach pain, nausea with vomiting; or fast or uneven heart rate.

Stop using Stavudine and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

    signs of a new infection such as fever, chills, sore throat, flu symptoms, easy bruising or unusual bleeding, loss of appetite, mouth sores;
    severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate;
    upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
    increased sweating, tremors in your hands, anxiety, feeling irritable, sleep problems (insomnia);
    diarrhea, unexplained weight loss, menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex;
    swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid);
    weakness, numbness, pain, or prickly feeling in your hands or feet;
    problems with walking, breathing, speech, swallowing, or eye movement; or
    severe lower back pain, loss of bladder or bowel control.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

SAFETY INFORMATION (Precautions) for STAVIR STAVUDINE CAPSULES :

    Avoid drinking alcohol while you take Stavir. Drinking alcohol may increase your risk of liver or pancreas problems.
    It may improve immune system function. This may reveal hidden infections in some patients. Tell your doctor right away if you notice symptoms of infection (eg, fever, sore throat, weakness, cough, shortness of breath) after you start this medication.
    Changes in body fat (eg, an increased amount of fat in the upper back, neck, breast, and trunk, and loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face) may occur in some patients taking Stavir. Discuss any concerns with your doctor.
    Diabetes patients – Stavudine may affect your blood sugar. Check blood sugar levels closely. Ask your doctor before you change the dose of your diabetes medicine.
    Lab tests, including liver and kidney function, may be performed while you use Stavudine. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
    PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is not known if this medication can cause harm to the fetus. It is not known if this medicine is found in breast milk. Mothers infected with HIV should not breast-feed. There is a risk of passing the HIV infection or Stavudine to the baby.

This is not a complete list. Ask your health care provider for more information.

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS :

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F). Dispense in a tight, light-resistant container.

DRUG INTERACTIONS :

Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

    Didanosine because the risk of side effects, including lactic acidosis, inflammation of the pancreas, or numbness or tingling of the hands or feet, may be increased
    Didanosine, doxorubicin, hydroxyurea, interferon, or ribavirin because the risk of severe and sometimes fatal liver problems may be increased
    Methadone or zidovudine because they may decrease Stavudine’s effectiveness

This document does not contain all possible interactions. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist.