Zalcitabine, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiviral

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

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat advanced cases of HIV infection. It may be taken alone or along with zidovudine (Retrovir/AZT) or other antiretroviral medicine.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

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

• an allergic reaction to any antiviral medicine
• kidney or liver disease
• peripheral neuropathy (nerve disease)
• lymphoma
• pancreatitis.

Females of childbearing age: These medicines are not usually used during pregnancy because they 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 and the zidovudine or other antiretroviral medicine exactly as directed by your health care provider. Both medicines are taken together and usually every 8 hours around the clock (such as 8 AM, 4 PM, and midnight or 6 AM, 2 PM, and 10 PM). Take the medicines 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals unless otherwise directed by the health care provider. Do not change the dosage on your own.

If you are taking this medicine without any other antiretroviral medicine, take it exactly as your health care provider prescribes.

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 health care provider.

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

What should I watch out for?

This treatment is not a cure for HIV infection. You may continue to develop illnesses that occur with advanced HIV infection. Report all changes in your condition to the health care provider. This treatment does not change the need to continue practices that prevent spreading the infection to others.

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 health care 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.

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 health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the hands and feet; nausea; vomiting; abdominal pain.

Other: Sore spots in mouth, rash, headache, dizziness, muscle pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, severe fatigue, loss of appetite, dark urine, yellowing of eyes and skin.

What products might interact with this medicine?

The following drugs should not be used during treatment with zalcitabine (Hivid) and zidovudine (Retrovir):

• chloramphenicol (Chloromycetin)
• cimetidine (Tagamet)
• cisplatin (Platinol)
• dapsone
• didanosine (Videx)
• disulfiram (Antabuse)
• ethionamide (Trecator-SC)
• glutethimide (Doriden)
• gold medicines
• hydralazine (Apresoline)
• iodoquinol (Yodoxin)
• isoniazid
• metoclopramide (Reglan)
• metronidazole (Flagyl)
• nitrofurantoin (Furadantin/Macrodantin)
• phenytoin (Dilantin)
• probenecid (Benemid)
• ribavirin (Virazole)
• vincristine (Oncovin/Vincasar PFS)

If you are being given IV pentamidine to treat pneumonia, you should not take this medicine while the IV pentamidine is given. There is an increased risk of developing pancreatitis.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care 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 health care 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.