Combivir

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Combivir
Combination of
Lamivudine Nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Zidovudine Nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Identifiers
CAS number  ?
ATC code J05AR01
PubChem 160352
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.

C(US)
Legal status

POM(UK) ℞-only(US)
Routes Oral

Combivir is the brand name for a pharmaceutical treatment for HIV infection. It is a fixed dose combination of two antiretroviral drugs, lamivudine (also called 3TC, with the brand name Epivir) and zidovudine (also called AZT, with the brand name Retrovir ). The combination of the two drugs has a stronger effect than either drug alone.

Both lamivudine and zidovudine are reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which block the action of an enzyme, reverse transcriptase, that the virus requires for reproduction. It reduces the viral load in the body and raises CD4 cell count.

It was approved by the FDA on September 26, 1997, making it the thirteenth approved antiretroviral. It is marketed by GlaxoSmithKline.

v • d • e
Antivirals used against HIV (HAART) (primarily J05)
Nucleoside & Nucleotide
Reverse Transcriptase
Inhibitors (NRTI)
Non-Nucleoside
Reverse Transcriptase
Inhibitors (NNRTI)
Protease Inhibitors (PI)
Entry/fusion inhibitors
Integrase inhibitors
Maturation inhibitors
Bevirimat† • Vivecon™†
Combined formulations
Combivir • Atripla • Trizivir • Truvada • Kaletra • Epzicom
Other &
experimental agents
°DHHS preferred first-line agent. †Undergoing clinical trials, not FDA approved. ‡Formerly or rarely used agent.
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