Epivir (Lamivudine)

(℞) Prescription Required

Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Epivir 300mg

Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by: VIIV Healthcare ULC
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Epivir 300mg
Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by VIIV Healthcare ULC
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Lamivudine 300mg

Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by: UK Various Generics
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Lamivudine 300mg
Product of United Kingdom
Manufactured by UK Various Generics
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Epivir 150mg

Product of Australia
Manufactured by: VIIV Healthcare ULC
*Product image for reference use only.
Epivir is also marketed as 3TC
Select Quantity
Epivir 150mg
Product of Australia
Manufactured by VIIV Healthcare ULC
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Zeffix 100mg

Product of Australia
Manufactured by: GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Zeffix 100mg
Product of Australia
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Lamivudine-HBV 100mg

Product of New Zealand
Manufactured by: Mylan
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Lamivudine-HBV 100mg
Product of New Zealand
Manufactured by Mylan
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Lamivudine 150mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Jamp Pharma Corp.
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Lamivudine 150mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Jamp Pharma Corp.
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Lamivudine 300mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: Apotex Inc
*Product image for reference use only.
**Med currently on back order**
Select Quantity
Lamivudine 300mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by Apotex Inc
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Heptovir 100mg

Product of Canada
Manufactured by: GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Heptovir 100mg
Product of Canada
Manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Inc.
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Lamivudine HBV 100mg

Product of India
Manufactured by: Cipla Ltd
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Lamivudine HBV 100mg
Product of India
Manufactured by Cipla Ltd
Top Brand Choice
Top Generic Choice

Lamivudine 150mg

Product of India
Manufactured by: Cipla Ltd
*Product image for reference use only.
Select Quantity
Lamivudine 150mg
Product of India
Manufactured by Cipla Ltd
Select your dosage

Epivir (Lamivudine) Dosage and Side Effects

EPIVIR is an antiviral medicine that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus cells from multiplying in your body.

Proper Use of this medication

Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. You should not take Epivir (for treating HIV) together with Epivir-HBV (for treating hepatitis B).

EPIVIR can be taken with or without food.

You may need to break an Epivir tablet in half when giving this medicine to a child for HIV. Call your doctor if the child has any trouble swallowing the tablet.

If a child is using this medicine, tell your doctor if the child has any changes in weight. EPIVIR doses are based on weight in children, and any changes may affect your child's dose.

Measure liquid medicine with the dosing syringe provided, or with a special dose-measuring spoon or medicine cup. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

The Epivir brand contains a higher dose of EPIVIR than Epivir-HBV brand. Epivir is for treating HIV and Epivir-HBV is for treating hepatitis B. Each time you get a refill of this medication, be sure you have received the correct brand to treat your condition.

While using EPIVIR, you may need frequent blood tests. Your kidney and liver function may also need to be checked.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of drugs. Use all medications as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Do not allow the liquid form of this medicine to freeze. Keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use.

If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking EPIVIR. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for several months after you stop using this medicine.

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line.

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Side Effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Some people develop lactic acidosis while taking EPIVIR. Early symptoms may get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as:

  • 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.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

  • pancreas problems--severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate; or
  • liver problems--nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, tired feeling, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

Common side effects may include:

  • diarrhea;
  • cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat; or
  • abnormal liver function tests.

Warnings and Precautions

This medicine may cause a serious condition called lactic acidosis. Get emergency medical help if you have even mild symptoms such as: muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, stomach pain, nausea with vomiting, fast or uneven heart rate, dizziness, or feeling very weak or tired.

EPIVIR can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver or pancreas. Call your doctor at once if you have: severe pain in your upper stomach spreading to your back, nausea and vomiting, fast heart rate, itching, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

The Epivir brand of EPIVIR (for treating HIV) should not be taken together with any other medicine that contains EPIVIR or emtricitabine. This includes Atripla, Combivir, Complera, Emtriva, Epzicom, Stribild, Trizivir, and Truvada.

The Epivir-HBV brand of EPIVIR (for treating hepatitis B) should not be taken together with any other medicine that contains EPIVIR, which includes Combivir, Epivir, Epzicom, and Trizivir.

If you have hepatitis B you may develop liver symptoms after you stop taking EPIVIR, even months after stopping. Your doctor may want to check your liver function for several months after you stop using EPIVIR. Visit your doctor regularly.

You should not take EPIVIR if you are allergic to it.

The Epivir brand of EPIVIR (for treating HIV) should not be taken together with any other medicine that contains EPIVIR or emtricitabine. This includes:

  • Atripla (efavirenz, emtricitabine, and tenofovir);
  • Combivir (EPIVIR and zidovudine);
  • Complera (rilpivirine, emtricitabine, and tenofovir);
  • Emtriva (emtricitabine);
  • Epzicom (abacavir and EPIVIR);
  • Stribild (cobicistat, elvitegravir, emtricitabine, and tenofovir);
  • Trizivir (abacavir, EPIVIR, and zidovudine); and
  • Truvada (emtricitabine and tenofovir).

The Epivir-HBV brand of EPIVIR (for treating hepatitis B) should not be taken together with any other medicine that contains EPIVIR, which includes:

  • Combivir (EPIVIR and zidovudine);
  • Epivir (EPIVIR) for treating HIV;
  • Epzicom (abacavir and EPIVIR); and
  • Trizivir (abacavir, EPIVIR, and zidovudine).

To make sure EPIVIR is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

  • liver disease (especially hepatitis B if you are being treated for HIV), or if you had a liver transplant;
  • kidney disease;
  • a history of pancreatitis; or
  • if you have used a medicine similar to EPIVIR in the past, such as abacavir (Ziagen), didanosine (Videx), emtricitabine (Atripla, Complera, Emtriva, Stribild, Truvada), stavudine (Zerit), tenofovir (Viread), zalcitabine (Hivid), or zidovudine (Retrovir).

Some people taking EPIVIR develop a serious condition called lactic acidosis. This may be more likely in women, in people who are overweight or have liver disease, and in people who have taken HIV/AIDS medication for a long time. Talk with your doctor about your risk.

It is not known whether EPIVIR will harm an unborn baby. HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of EPIVIR on the baby.

EPIVIR can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using EPIVIR to treat hepatitis B. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

EPIVIR should not be given to a child younger than 2 years old.

If you have diabetes, you should know that the liquid forms of EPIVIR contain 3 to 4 grams of sucrose (sugar) per dose.

Interactions with this medication

Taking this medicine will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Other drugs may interact with EPIVIR, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Some drugs should not be used together with EPIVIR. Tell each of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medicine you start or stop using.

Other related products

Sign up to receive exclusive discounts & offers, medication updates, & health news delivered to your inbox.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Back to top