Retrovir

Maker:
ViiV Healthcare

What it does:
Helps prevent replication of HIV

Traditional dosage:
600 mg a day, taken in divided doses, in tablets, capsule, or syrup. Can also be given as an intravenous infusion, 1 mg per kg of body weight, over one hour, every four hours.

Drug interactions, precautions, & recommendations:
Do not take with other medicines that contain the same active ingredients, including Combivir and Trizivir. Not recommended for use with hepatitis drugs (Copegus, Rebetol, RibaTab, Ribasphere). Use with caution if taking ganciclovir or interferon alfa (Pegasys, PegIntron). Do not use with stavudine or doxorubicin.

Side effects:
Most serious: low white and red blood cell counts, myopathy and myositis (muscle disorders and inflammation), buildup of lactic acid in blood, severe liver problems, immune system or body fat changes
Other: headache, malaise, nausea, anorexia, vomiting