Fact Sheets on Antiretroviral Drugs

Storage
� Capsules: 100 and 250 mg
� Tablets: 300 mg
� IV solution: 10 mg/ml (only use in special circumstances)
Room temperature
Dose
<strong>Fact</strong> <strong>Sheets</strong> on Antiretroviral Drugs
Adults: 200 mg (2 x 100-mg caps.) three times daily or 300
mg (1 tab.) twice daily or 250 mg (1 x 250-mg cap.) twice
daily
Children: WHO recommended:
Food effect
It can be taken with or without food.
Half-life in plasma
From 0.5 to 3 hours
Metabolism
Mainly in the liver
Interactions with other drugs
< 4 weeks: 4 mg/kg twice daily
4 weeks - < 13 years: 180 mg/m 2 of body surface twice daily
[Also possible: 90-180 mg/m 2 every 6-8 hours (480 mg/m 2
daily to a maximum of 600 mg daily)]
� Increased toxicity can be observed with concomitant administration of
Acyclovir; Gancyclovir; Interferon alpha; Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole
(TMP/SMX) and other drugs causing bone marrow suppression.
� Zidovudine levels may be increased by Atovaquone; Fluconazole;
Methadone; Probenecid and Valproic acid.
� Zidovudine levels may be decreased by Clarithromycin (interference with
absorption); Nelfinavir; Rifampicin and Ritonavir.
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