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| Pronunciation |
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 (STAV
yoo
deen) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Zerit® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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Antiretroviral Agent, Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor
(Nucleoside) |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
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|
- This medicine may cause liver damage and a change in the acid
levels in the blood. Closely review the section in this leaflet which lists when
to immediately call your healthcare provider. Pregnant women may be at a high
risk of developing a change in acid levels called lactic acidosis when taking
stavudine and didanosine together. This combination has rarely caused death. The
combination should only be used in pregnant women when the benefit outweighs the
risk.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
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- If you have an allergy to stavudine or any other part of the
medicine.
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|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used to treat HIV infection. It is usually taken with
2 other medicines.
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| How does it work? |
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- Stavudine stops the HIV virus from increasing. It blocks reproduction
of the virus.
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| How is it best taken? |
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- The medicine must be taken exactly as directed.
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- A liquid (solution) is available if you cannot swallow pills. Those
who have feeding tubes can also use the liquid. Flush the feeding tube before
and after medicine is given. Shake well
first.
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|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
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- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- Do not run out of this medication. Get it refilled today!
- Limit alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor). May increase
numbness, tingling, or pain in the feet and hands.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Protect against sexual spread of disease. Use an effective method of
birth control. Talk with healthcare provider if you have questions.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant.
- Do not get pregnant. Use birth control that you can trust while taking
this medicine.
- Breast-feeding is not recommended in HIV
disease.
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| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking
hard candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Diarrhea.
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in feet or hands.
- Headache.
- Anemia and low white blood cell count (can get infections easier).
- Rarely, lactic acidosis and liver disease when used with didanosine in
pregnant women.
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| What should I monitor? |
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- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare provider.
- If pregnant, taking didanosine and stavudine then watch liver function
tests and acid levels in blood closely. Talk with healthcare
provider.
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| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Numbness, tingling, or pain in feet or hands.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
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- Store capsules in a tight container at room temperature.
- Store liquid (solution) in a tight container in a refrigerator. Throw
away after 30 days.
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| General statements |
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- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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