Side Effects of HIV and AIDS Drugs
HIV medications help many people lead longer, healthier lives. However, AIDS and HIV drug side effects are also common. These side effects range from mild to life threatening. Here is an overview of some of the common and more severe HIV drug side effects.
Common Side Effects of HIV Drugs
The following chart lists some HIV medication side effects that are more common and a few special precautions. To prevent interactions, it is important to tell your doctor about all drugs you take. Also tell your doctor right away if you have new, unusual, or long-lasting symptoms.
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Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) |
Common Side Effects |
Special Precautions |
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Ziagen (abacavir) |
Hypersensitivity reaction |
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Combivir (lamivudine + zidovudine) |
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Videx, or Videx-EC (didanosine or ddl) |
Diarrhea, abdominal pain, neuropathy, nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis |
Do not combine with stavudine. |
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Rash, and skin darkening of palms or soles, numbness, tingling, or burning sensation |
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Epzicom (abacavir + lamivudine) |
Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea, fatigue, chills, dizziness, headaches, insomnia |
Bactrim or Septra may increase blood levels; do not take with stavudine. |
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Epivir (lamivudine) |
Nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, diarrhea, fatigue, dizziness, headaches, insomnia |
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Zerit, Zerit XR (stavudine, d4T) |
Peripheral neuropathy, headache, chills & fever, diarrhea, nausea, fat loss in arms, legs, or face |
Do not combine with AZT or didanosine. |
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Mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, upset stomach |
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Trizivir (abacavir + zidovudine + lamivudine) |
Anemia, nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, dizziness, insomnia, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, hypersensitivity reaction |
Tell your doctor about all medications you're taking. |
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Truvada (tenofovir + emtricitabine) |
Mild nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, rash, darkening of palms or soles, tingling, numbness, or burning sensation |
Do not take with didanosine or lamivudine. |
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Retrovir (AZT, zidovudine) |
Anemia, nausea, vomiting |
Do not combine with stavudine. |
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Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs) |
Common Side Effects |
Special Precautions |
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Depression, difficulty sleeping, headache, rash |
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Sustiva (efavirenz) |
Vivid dreams, anxiety, rash, nausea, insomnia |
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| Viramune (nevirapine) | Skin rash, fever, headache, nausea, diarrhea |
Liver problems.
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| Protease Inhibitors (PIs) | Common Side Effects | Special Precautions |
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Agenerase (amprenavir) |
Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rash |
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Elevated levels of bilirubin. Nausea, headache, rash, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, changes in heart rhythm. |
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Diarrhea, nausea, headache, skin rash |
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Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, rash, numbness around mouth, abdominal pain |
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Diarrhea, fatigue, headache, nausea, weakness, rash, insomnia |
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Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, weakness, rash, anemia, joint pain |
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Norvir (ritonavir) |
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, taste changes, headache, dizziness, rash |
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Elevated liver enzymes and cholesterol levels, diarrhea, rash, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, fatigue, headache |
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Fusion Inhibitor (FI) |
Common Side Effects |
Special Precautions |
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Fuzeon (enfuvirtide) |
Redness, itching, or hard lumps at injection site, insomnia, depression, diarrhea, nausea, weakness, muscle pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, flu-like symptoms |
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