Zalcitabine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor; antiretroviral (anti-HIV)

Generic and brand names: ddC; dideoxycytidine; zalcitabine, oral; Hivid

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat HIV infection.

It is usually taken with other medicines.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• anemia or other blood disorders
• diabetes
• gout or high levels of uric acid in your blood
• hepatitis B
• lymphoma
• peripheral neuropathy.
• ulcers of the mouth or esophagus

Females of childbearing age: This medicine is not usually used during pregnancy because it may harm the baby. Talk to your health care provider if you need birth control. Also, contact your health care provider at the first sign of pregnancy. Do not breast-feed without your health care provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more of it or take it more often than directed. Do not stop taking this medicine or change your dosage unless directed to do so by your healthcare provider.

Do not let your medicine run out. The amount of virus in your blood may increase if you stop the medicine, even for a short time.

Take antacids 1 or 2 hours apart from doses of this medicine.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine is not a cure for HIV infection. You may continue to get other illnesses or infections. Treatment with this medicine may reduce the frequency of the illnesses. This medicine does not reduce the risk of infecting other people through sexual contact or blood contamination. There is no information about the effects of long-term treatments.

You will need to have lab tests regularly to see how this medicine affects you. Keep all appointments for these tests.

Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious problem that can occur with use of this medicine. Stop taking this medicine and contact your healthcare provider right away if you develop unexplained symptoms such as:

• feel very ill, cold, dizzy, or lightheaded
• have muscle pain, nausea, trouble breathing, or increasing drowsiness
• suddenly have a slow or irregular heartbeat.

Treatment with this medicine may cause a change in the location of fat in your body. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

The most serious side effects of this treatment are peripheral neuropathy (a disease of the nerves), liver damage, and pancreatitis. These can be life-threatening. Therefore, report these symptoms to your healthcare provider immediately:

• numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the hands and feet
• sores in your mouth
• nausea
• vomiting
• abdominal pain
• severe fatigue
• loss of appetite
• dark urine
• fever
• headache
• muscle or joint pain
• yellowing of your eyes and skin.

This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Diabetics: This medicine may affect your blood sugar level and change the amount of insulin or other diabetes medicines you may need. Talk to your healthcare provider about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you are unable to reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives, itching, rash, tightness in your chest, swelling of your lips, tongue or throat, trouble breathing).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Slow or irregular heartbeat; dark urine; diarrhea; fever; light-colored bowel movements; muscle or joint pain; severe nausea and tiredness; pale skin; seizures; severe muscle weakness; shortness of breath; severe stomach pain; seizures; severe dizziness; severe back or leg pain; swelling in ankles or feet; tingling, numbness, or pain in the hands or feet; unexplained cough or sore throat; unusual bruising or bleeding; sores that don't heal; persistent vomiting; yellow skin or eyes.

Other: Mild rash, headache, dizziness, diarrhea, changes in body fat, depression.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antiviral medicines such as amprenavir (Agenerase), nelfinavir (Viracept), ritonavir (Norvir), delavirdine (Rescriptor), ribavirin (Rebetol, Rebetron, Virazole), stavudine (Zerit), tenofovir (Viread), ganciclovir (Cytovene), adefovir (Hepsera), didanosine (Videx), lamivudine (Epivir), zidovudine (Retrovir), and zalcitabine (Hivid)
• any other medicine containing abacavir, lamivudine, emtricitabine or zidovudine
• medicines used to treat cancer such as cisplatin (Platinol), hydroxyurea (Hydrea), doxorubicin (Adriamycin, Rubex, Doxil), vinblastine, and vincristine (Vincasar)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• glutethimide (Doriden)
• gold medicines (Aurolate)
• hydralazine (Apresoline)
• iodoquinol (Yodoxin)
• medicines to treat stomach acid such as Maalox, Mylanta, Tums, Milk of Magnesia, Rolaids, and cimetidine (Tagamet)
• metoclopramide (Reglan)

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine. Discuss this with your healthcare provider.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.