COMBIVIR Reviews (LAMIVUDINE; ZIDOVUDINE)Average Rating: 3.0 (51 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare COMBIVIR with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR COMBIVIR | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | PEP | tiredness, neauseia,bloated,headheachs. the side effects have not been that serious though most of the time. first test after two weeks showed negative, if it works definitely worth it rather than to have to take it for the rest of you life. at least i know i am doing all i can to ensure that i am negative. | am taking it toghether with efavirenz, which seem to initially have quite serious side effect such as dizzyness and headaches | M | 40 | 24 days 150mg 2X day | 10/5/2011 | 3 | I was exposed to a used needle | Really Really bad nausea, Dizzyness, sleepiness, I felt like I was having morning sickness. It was bad, Good Luck..... | Well I came out negative, but I was sick the whole 30 days, I couldn't work the whole month. | F | 28 | 30 days 1X day | 4/27/2011 | 4 | Prophylactic | No side effect noticed so far. I had a cold just when I began my regime, so I am not sure if the sore throat I feel is due to my cold or my medication. I also have a stiff neck, cannot turn my head to the right, but I think it may also be attributed to my cold. Will see. | I would rather take this medication for 30 days than face the prospect of taking it for the rest of my life. | F | 44 | 3 days 30 2X day | 3/20/2011 | 4 | PEP | Nausea, headaches, fatigue. | For the first three days, I experienced no side effects at all. Then on the fourth day, I was hit hard with intense nausea. I vomited several times over the course of the day, and felt pretty miserable. The vomiting only lasted that one day, thankfully, but the nausea was bad for another three or four days, slowly improving day by day. A week after the initial vomiting I was feeling more or less fine. I'm now three weeks into the medication and my body seems to have adapted. I have no more nausea or headaches. Perhaps a bit more fatigue than usual, as I seem to sleep an extra hour or two more than my usual. In short, it sounds like my experience was unlike most of those described here. Other than one day of pure misery and a few quite unpleasant days, it's been ok. I recommend trying to eat small portions of food over the course of the day, so that your stomach is not empty. Apples, bananas, bread, etc., things that are easy on your stomach. During my nausea, that appeared to help me. | M | 38 | 28 days 150 2X day | 1/17/2011 | 3 | HIV PEP | Fatigue, headache, mild nausea, low platelet counts, low white blood cell counts (moderate-severe netropenia). | Went on PEP for moderate risk sexual encounter (insertive anal sex with a partner of unknown status). My fatigue and headache is moderate (able to work and do some excerise, but feel crappy). I find eating and sleeping alot more than normal makes me feel better. More disconcerning is the follow up blood tests showed what are likely toxic effects of the the AZT in Combivir. My doc wants me to consider going off the drugs (or at the very least monitor my decrease in white blood count every other day, and going off if there is any further decline). Learned my lesson for my poor judgment, feel badly for those that need to take these drugs to survive, hope that between my relatively low chance of exposure and this course of drugs I will remain negative. | M | 39 | 28 days 2X day | 1/14/2011 | 3 | Post exposure-needle stick injury | nausea, headache, diarrhea, increased hunger, insomnia, decreased concentration | First 3 days very nauseous, no appetite, diarrhea, and headache. I no longer experience any of these symptoms but am constantly hungry. The worst hunger pains I have ever experienced in my life. I have to eat so much to feel full and I am just as hungry again about 2 hours later. The hunger pains tend to be worse about an hour after taking Combivir. The pain wakes me up in the middle of the night. I'm also not sleeping as well as I used to. I really don't know if I can take another 3 weeks of this. I am really considering maybe only taking them another 2 weeks. | F | 22 | 7 days 150 mg/300 2X day | 11/5/2010 | 3 | post exposure | nausea, dry nose, eyes. What is most surprising I gained 4 kg on weight during 2 weeks but I did not changed my eating habits. | M | 30 | 17 days 300 2X day | 11/1/2010 | 5 | PEP | Almost nothing. I am hoping this will not change! The only side effect I may have felt is slight nausea (a slightly "drunk" feeling) on a few afternoons. I have been a little thirstier perhaps. Maybe I am just fortunate so far? | I am a little concerned that the comments of others on here (which are no doubt well intended) might discourage persons from seeking PEP treatment for HIV exposure due to the potential side effects. If you have an exposure talk to your doctor ASAP and certainly within 72 hours. In my case the doctor suggested that I at least start combivir and consider stopping if the side effects are bad - because it is not a decision you can put off until later! You are not certain to have bad side effects like some have reported. I hope this helps. | M | 27 | 15 days 1 tablet 2X day | 9/21/2010 | 5 | hiv | it will make you feel week, you must get alot of rest | i have been undectable for 7 1/2 years | F | 33 | 9 years 300mg 1X day | 7/26/2010 | 3 | PEP | GAS, fairly consistent nausea, loss of appetite, sense of motion sickness, anxiety, fatigue, aversion to some previously enjoyable smells, slight worsening of existing depression, restless, fluttery feeling behind sternum, stomach discomfort. | I figured out that the increasing queasiness I feel for the first few hours after each dose is actually hunger - so I'm forcing myself to eat bland food despite constant low-grade nausea. Apparently there is a 3/1000 chance that I was infected after topping and ejaculating in an HIV-positive man. I decided to demonstrate self care anyway as contrary action to the lack of self esteem I showed by having unprotected sex in the first place. Hopefully this will teach me a lesson. Don't allow a potential sex partner's verbal assurance that he is "clean" to dissuade you from using a condom. You may find out the following morning that he lied... | M | 37 | 28 days 150/300mg 2X day | 7/21/2010 | 3 | sexually assaulted | slight bloating and mild appetite gain...nothing really from what I have noticed in the past two weeks besides very mild diarrhea in first two days. | This drug has not made me ill to date and I have been taking it now for 17 days, 13 left to go. I work two jobs and have taken no time off work. Although reading these testimonies I am very concerned for the long term side effects this drug may have on me and whether or not it is worth it as a preventative measure as I am not sure that I was exposed to the virus. | F | 21 | 30 days 2X day | 6/24/2010 | 5 | PEP | Fatigue/Tiredness, Constant upset stomach/nausea, sore throat | After having risky sex with someone I found out was positive (no ejaculation), I contacted my doctor immediately and he offered two options (1) check viral load in 48 hours or (2) take combivir for 30 days. I of course chose to take the medication regardless of any side effects to ensure I caught any possible exposure. It's worth the peace of mind. Although, I'm a very physical and athletic person and this drug has depleted my energy. Many days I end up sleeping most of the day. I feel nauseous most of the time but I make sure I eat regularly. I've also noticed that I have kept a sore throat for the past couple of weeks. I have 3 days left of the 30 days and am counting down to the finish line and am praying that I maintain my negative status. | M | 50 | 30 days 30 MG 2X day | 6/21/2010 | 4 | PEP | nausea, dizzy, irritable, moody, nervous (doors closing/clapping/etc) and twitchy, dry mouth | It is awful and it's the price to pay to prevent infection. The following helped very much. Eat lots of healthy food. Eat a full breakfast (oats, low GI bread, eggs, fish). Follow with substantial snacks (sandwiches/muffins/fruit) mid morning. Full lunch, full dinner. Drinking ginger tea or rooibos tea (brilliant). Take vitamin supplements and ginseng. Also pray and meditate - it really helps. | M | 40 | 30 days 2X day | 5/22/2010 | 4 | post exposure-unsure of status | Thank God nothing so far. I just pray all the time that it will stay like this. A bit more thirsty and helps to eat frequently and small amts. Perhaps abdominal bloating visible | Avoid all alchohol and eat as healthy as possible. Be sensible and rest a lot go to bed early and drink enough fluid.Keep your mind positive and ask God to help you see this through, it helps. | F | 52 | 30 days 1tablet 2X day | 5/12/2010 | 1 | needle stick exsposure | Just started drug coctail, Then to combivir for 30 days. Am already so sick! Nausea, Vomiting, gas, body aches, muscle Pain and weakness, nasal stuffiness, Feverish, decreased mental clarity, Want to cry all the time, yougart Helps with nausea, ginger ale will Also help, lots of sinus drainage, Don't take unless it is a matter, Of life or death! You will be sorry! | F | 54 | 30 days 300 2X day | 5/9/2010 | 3 | PEP | nausea, stomach upset, diarrhea/bloating/constipation, fatigue, insomnia | I am taking Combivir because of a low-but-some risk exposure by a poz person - ejaculate on anal/rectal skin of questionable intactness. I know I am doing the right thing. My symptoms sound less severe than some reported here, but it's worrisome that some people feel fatigue months after. I will be on for 4 weeks. It's odd that insomnia and fatigue co-occur. I will take the second dose earlier in the evening. I am doing yogurt and kefir. My appetite isn't bad, I just feel queasy at times. It's important to know that a person who has a low viral load in his blood can still shed HIV into his semen. | M | 50 | 5 days 2X day | 4/13/2010 | 3 | rape sexual assalt | queasy, dizzy, nauseous, light headed, can't sleep at night and sleepy all day, body confusion, irritable mood swings, loss of appetite | All i want to do throw up, I haven't thrown up yet but i want to so very badly. If there was any other way to go throw this i would but i cant bare the thought of being H.I.V. positive. I just really wish the medicine made me feel better as opposed to this constant sick feeling, I dont know weather i want to eat or drink. Do i want a nap or do i want to be awake. My head wont stop spinning, my stomach is constantly in knots. i just hope this stuff works. I pray everyday that this pain is worth me not being infected, i hope this does me some good | F | 20 | 28 days 150mg/ 300 2X day | 4/8/2010 | 4 | victim of sexual assault | Nausea, vomiting, muscle pain, fatigue coupled with insomnia, mental confusion. | I was sexually assaulted. I am taking a 28 day regimen of combivir & tenofiver as a prophylactic measure should I be found to have been exposed to HIV. I would far rather endure the side effects of the treatment as a prophylactic measure than bury my head in the sand and rely on hope and naivete. | F | 40 | 5 days 150/300mg 2X day | 3/19/2010 | 3 | PEP | None so far, but I'm only two days into it | I had an exposure at work and I'm on my 5th dose. I have yet to experience any side effects except maybe extra sleepiness and was wondering when they were likely to start or if I'm going to be very lucky and have little or no problems. | M | 51 | 2 days | 10/24/2009 | 1 | Exposure to HIV positive female | Tiredness, sleepiness, muscle soreness, stomach discomfort, headache, feeling sick, depression, extreme fatigue and full body muscle soreness after even light activities like walking. | I would strongly discourage anyone from taking this medicine unless adsolutely necessary. I took Combivir for 30 days as a post exposure prophylaxis and felt tired even months after taking the medication. I am normally super athletic and I feel I am no longer that way(it's been 2 years since already). You will need to take time off your job if your job is physically demanding. My blood felt like acid. The doctors and packaging seriously needed to warn patients of the side effects of this expensive drug. Use protection(condom). Just because you had sex with a promiscuous female or male you are unsure of is No reason to take this drug with long term side effects. Unless you Know you are seriously exposed to HIV virus. If so start the drug as soon as possible(best within 24 hours, within 3 days still quite good) . | M | 35 | 30 days | 9/19/2009 |