Can you answer the following questions about
Zerit®?
What is the generic name? Any abbreviations?
What "class" antiretroviral is it and how does it work?
With food, without food or food doesn't matter?
Any side effects?
Any possible drug interactions?
What is a typical dose?
Any other significant counseling points?
Zerit ® (Stavudine, d4T) is a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
(NRTI) that
inhibits viral replication.
Zerit ® (Stavudine, d4T) can be dosed as 40 mg bid (³ 60 kg) or 30
mg bid (< 60 kg).
Zerit ® (Stavudine, d4T) can be taken
with or without food.
Most common side effect to warn patient about is peripheral
neuropathy.
Due to a drug interaction, Zerit ®
(Stavudine, d4T) and zidovudine (another
NRTI) should
never be used together.
Lactic acidosis with hepatic steatosis is a rare but potentially fatal
toxicity associated with the use of NRTIs.
As with all antiretrovirals, adherence is
crucial. Non-adherence is a
frequent cause of drug failure and viral resistance, not only to stavudine,
but to other NRTIs as well.
