Healthy Matters
Resources
  • Healthy Matters
    Drugs A-Z
    Pharmacist Tips | Dosages | Side effects
  • Healthy Matters
    Food & Nutrition
    Nutritionist Tips | Facts | Precautions
  • Healthy Matters
    Chinese Medicine Herbs
    Practitioner Tips | Dosages | Side effects
  • Healthy Matters
    Chinese Medicine Prescriptions
  • Healthy Matters
    Expert Advisory Board
Articles
  • Healthy Matters
    Specialists Guide
  • Healthy Matters
    Other Services Guide
  • Healthy Matters
    Vaccination
  • Healthy Matters
    Parenting Guides
Health Topics
  • Healthy Matters
    Allergy & Immunology
  • Healthy Matters
    Baby & Child's Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Beauty
  • Healthy Matters
    Bone & Muscle Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Cancer & Tumor
  • Healthy Matters
    Common Illnesses
  • Healthy Matters
    Digestive Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Eye Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Fitness
  • Healthy Matters
    Food & Nutrition
  • Healthy Matters
    Heart & Vascular Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Infectious Diseases
  • Healthy Matters
    Medical Tests
  • Healthy Matters
    Mental Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Pregnancy
  • Healthy Matters
    Respiratory Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Sexual Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Skin Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Urological Health
  • Healthy Matters
    Women's Health
Healthy Offers
Health Check
  • Basic Health Screening for $1600 (Original: $3,120)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Premier Health Screening (Female) for $4,500 (Original: $9,120)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Premier Health Screening (Male) for $4,200 (Original: $8,760)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Stroke Risk Assessment for $7,100 (Original: 9,430)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Cardiac & Coronary Assessment for $5,800 (Original: $8,330)
    Trinity Medical Centre
  • Bone Health Screening for $1,600 (Original: $2,990)
    Trinity Medical Centre
Eye Health
  • Myopia Control Assessment for Children : Privileged Price - HK$400
    Clarity Eye Centres
  • Comprehensive Eye Examination Plan for Adult - HK$500
    Clarity Eye Centres
  • Comprehensive Eye Examination Plan (For SMILE PRO) - HK$400
    Clarity Eye Centres
  • Comprehensive Eye Examination Plan (For ICL) - HK$580
    Clarity Eye Centres
Healthy Matters
Search All
  • Healthy Matters
    Doctors
    Specialty | Address | Phone number
  • Healthy Matters
    Clinics
    Opening Hours | Address | Phone number
Popular Locations
  • Healthy Matters
    Central
  • Healthy Matters
    Tsim Sha Tsui
  • Healthy Matters
    Mong Kok
  • Healthy Matters
    Causeway Bay
Healthy Matters
Home
>
Western medicines > Lamivudine

Lamivudine

Chinese name:
拉米夫定
Kenny Cheuk Yin Cheung, Pharmacist
Medically reviewed by
Kenny Cheuk Yin Cheung, Pharmacist
Last Updated: 2022-02-28

What is Lamivudine for?

Lamivudine belongs to a class of medication called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors. It prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or hepatitis B virus from multiplying in your body. It is used to treat HIV in adults and children over 3 months old and hepatitis B. HIV is the virus that can cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

 

Lamivudine is not a cure for HIV infection or AIDS, however, it reduces the amount of HIV in your body so that your immune system works better.

How to use it?

Lamivudine is available as a tablet or oral solution, which may be taken with or without food. If you are taking oral solution, shake the bottle well before you take it to ensure that the liquid is evenly mixed, and use the measuring spoon or cup provided to measure the prescribed dose.

 

HIV infection (Used in combination with other antiretroviral)
Adult
150 mg twice daily or 300 mg once daily.


Child over 3 months
The maximum dosage for children is 300 mg daily.
30 kg and over: 150 mg twice daily.
22-30 kg: 75 mg in the morning and 150 mg at night.
14-21 kg: 75 mg twice daily.
Less than 14 kg: Use oral solution. 4 mg per kg body weight twice daily.

 

Chronic hepatitis B
Adult
100 mg once daily. For patients with concomitant HIV infection, use 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg once daily.


Child 2-17 years
3 mg per kg body weight once daily. Maximum dosage is 100 mg daily.

What are the side effects of Lamivudine?

Common side effects of Lamivudine include diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache, joint or muscle pain, cough, runny nose or irritation, sore throat, chills, fever, tiredness, rashes, loss of appetite, indigestion and difficulty sleeping.

Who should not take Lamivudine?

People allergic to Lamivudine or any component of the formulation.

Pharmacist Tips:

  • Continue to take all HIV medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor to limit the risk of transferring HIV to others.
  • Use an effective barrier method, such as condoms or dental dams, during sexual activity to reduce the risk of transmission of HIV.
  • Do not share personal items that may have contacted blood or other body fluids, such as needles/syringes, toothbrushes and razors.

Common dosing schedule:
Lamivudine is taken once or twice daily. Try to take it at the same time each day.

 

This schedule is for reference only, adjustments may be made according to individual needs.

 

Some common medications Lamivudine may interact with:

  • Antibiotics, e.g. Trimethoprim, Cotrimoxazole
  • Antivirals, e.g. Ganciclovir, Ribavirin

Please notify your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking the above medication, dosage adjustments might be needed.

Where to buy Lamivudine in Hong Kong?

In Hong Kong, Lamivudine is a prescription only medicine, and requires a prescription from a doctor to be purchased in a pharmacy. It can also be obtained from doctors. To find a pharmacy near you, refer to the list of pharmacies (“Authorized Sellers of Poisons”) from the Hong Kong Department of Health.

 

For more information about drug names and ingredients, you can visit Hong Kong’s Drug Office at https://www.drugoffice.gov.hk

Need more information?

For detailed information about the use of Lamivudine in children, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and for questions about drug interactions, please check with your pharmacist or doctor.

Disclaimer: our goal is to provide you with the most relevant drug information and common dosage for Hong Kong. This information does not constitute medical advice. For specific treatment recommendations and advice, always discuss with your doctor or pharmacist, and follow the instructions included with your specific medicine.

Healthy Matters

Your health resource, made in Hong Kong

Healthy Matters is Hong Kong’s leading health resource. Our mission is to help you make better health decisions and take control of your health.

 

Our team of experts is committed to producing reliable health content that is accurate, engaging and relevant, to cover your health & wellness journey from prevention to treatment.

 

Whether you are looking for trusted information on health conditions, wellbeing or looking for the right doctor or service in Hong Kong, we’re here to help!

 

Your health matters. Begin your health journey with Healthy Matters today!

 

Read about our story

illustrations of a doctor and a mobile phone