Lamivudine

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Also indexed as:

3TC, Epivir

Combination List

Combination drug:

• Combivir

Lamivudine is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and is in a class of drugs known as antivirals.

Herbs

Summary of Interactions for Lamivudine

Depletion or interference	None known
Adverse interaction	None known
Side effect reduction/prevention	None known
Supportive interaction	Sho-saiko-to*
Reduced drug absorption/bioavailability	None known

An asterisk (*) next to an item in the summary indicates that the interaction is supported only by weak, fragmentary, and/or contradictory scientific evidence.

Interactions with Herbs

Sho-saiko-to

Test tube studies show that the herbal combination sho-saiko-to enhances the antiviral activity of lamivudine.¹ Sho-saiko-to contains extracts of seven herbs, including Bupleuri radix, Pinelliae tuber, Scutellariae radix, Zizyphi fructus, ginseng (Ginseng radix),licorice(Glycyrrhizae radix), and ginger(Zingibers rhizoma). Controlled studies are needed to determine whether taking sho-saiko-to might enhance the beneficial effects of lamivudine.

References

1. Piras G, Makino M, Baba M. Sho-saiko-to, a traditional kampo medicine, enhances the anti-HIV-1 activity of lamivudine (3TC) in vitro. Microbiol Immunol 1997;41:835-9.

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Last Review: 09-01-2007

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