Details

Stavudine is used for treating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines. Stavudine is a nucleoside analogue antiviral. It blocks the growth of HIV. Do not use stavudine if you are allergic to any ingredient in stavudine taking zidovudine taking didanosine or hydroxyurea or have an enlarged liver or lactic acidosis. Before using stavudine, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, abnormal liver function tests, diabetes, inflammation of the pancreas, gallstones, or problems with tingling or numbness in your hands or feet.

Typical Uses

Stavudine is used with other HIV medications to help control HIV infection. It helps to decrease the amount of HIV in your body so your immune system can work better. This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Stavudine belongs to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI).

Side Effects

Common stavudine side effects may include chills fever muscle aches or weakness numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet sore throat stomach pain (with or without nausea or vomiting) stomach swelling symptoms of high blood sugar (e.g., increased thirst or urination, confusion, unusual drowsiness) symptoms of lactic acidosis (e.g., general body discomfort, cold feeling, dizziness, light-headedness, fast or irregular heartbeat, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, unexplained weight loss) symptoms of liver problems (e.g., yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale stools, persistent loss of appetite, persistent nausea or vomiting) unusual bruising or bleeding unusual tiredness or weakness weakness in the arms or legs.

Drug Interactions

• Stavudine+bexarotene- Using bexarotene together with stavudine may increase the risk of pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Stavudine+didanosine- Using didanosine together with stavudine can increase the blood levels or add to the side effects of either medication. Talk with your doctor before using these medications together.
• Stavudine+leflunomide- Leflunomide may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as stavudine may increase that risk. Because leflunomide can stay in your blood for a prolonged period after the last dose, interactions with other drugs may occur for some time even after you have stopped taking it. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications.
• Stavudine+mipomersen- Mipomersen may cause liver problems, and using it with other medications that can also affect the liver such as stavudine may increase that risk. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol to no more than one drink per day while being treated with these medications.

Mechanism of action

Stavudine belongs to a group of drugs called as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It works by inhibiting multiplication of viruses thus decreasing their levels in the infected patient.

Pregnancy Category : C