VIREAD Viread Information Viread is the name of a medicine administered in the treatment of infections with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) responsible for the development of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is available under the form of pills and it is typically administered along with a number of other antiretroviral medications used in the treatment of HIV. Viread is the first produced nucleotide analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitor that has received approval for use in adult patients for the treatment of HIV. Millions of people across the world are suffering from an infection with HIV. At this time, only a small percentage of these people are undergoing treatment for the infection, but due to the progress of modern medicine, more individuals are expected to start treatment each year. Viread Indications Viread is normally employed in the treatment of HIV, in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. Apart from that, this drug may also be employed in the treatment of patients suffering from chronic hepatitis B, however no extensive studies have been performed on the efficiency of Viread therapy in these patients. If you would like to know exactly why you have been prescribed a treatment with this drug, it is best to ask the prescribing health care professional. Viread Warnings Your personal health care provider may inquire about your general health condition and medical history before prescribing you a treatment with Viread. Patients suffering from renal impairment should not be administered this drug. Also, the safety of a therapy with this drug has not yet been established in patients of less than 18 years of age. There may be other factors which may prevent an individual from undergoing treatment with Viread. To find out more about this, you should consult with your personal health care provider. Viread Intake Guidelines Viread is a medicine that is available only under the form of tablets. As such, it should be taken with a glass of water according to the prescribing health care professional’s indications, and the medication should be administered at the same time each day in order to reduce the chances of missing any doses. Patients following a treatment with Viread are advised to closely follow the intake instructions, and they should never attempt to modify the medication dosage, either by altering the doses themselves or by modifying the intake schedule. Viread Dosage Viread is available to purchase under the form of pills, each containing a 300 mg dose of the medicine. In most cases, the prescribed dose is of one tablet per day; however the dosage may be lowered in patients suffering from kidney disorders or other medical conditions. The examining health care professional will provide you with the Viread dosage best suited to your case, based on your age, general health condition and medical history. Viread Overdose An overdose with Viread may lead to the exacerbation of such symptoms as muscle and stomach pain, breathing difficulties, weakness and fatigue. The patient may experience slow heartbeat or heartbeat irregularities and persistent nausea and vomiting. The patient’s hands and / or feet may become cold and bluish, and he or she may experience lightheadedness or dizziness. Several affections of the kidneys and liver may develop. The patient may be affected by lactic acidosis and hepatic steatosis. If you experience any unusual or unpleasant symptoms and you have reasons to suspect you are suffering from an overdose with Viread, it is highly advised to seek immediate medical attention. Viread Missed Dose It is very important to closely follow the Viread intake guidelines that have been prescribed by your personal health care professional. In case you have missed a dose, the drug levels in the blood decrease and this may lead to the virus developing drug resistance. Drug resistances may lower the efficiency of medication therapy, and the treatment may stop working. As such, you should take the missed dose as soon as you remember, however if it is almost time for the next dose you should skip that dose entirely and contact your doctor for further instructions. You should never take a double dose of this medicine to make up for the missed one unless your doctor instructs you to do so. Viread Side Effects In most cases, Viread does not cause side effects in the patients. However, there are situations where this drug may cause the appearance of temporary side effects, as the body adjusts to the medication. Flatulence, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting are symptoms which may appear, and normally they will cease within a few days. If the effects become too bothersome or if they persist for longer periods of time, it is advised to consult with you personal health care provider for advice. In rare cases, this drug may cause the appearance of severe side effects, such as kidney disorders, bone problems (such as osteopenia and osteoporosis), lactic acidosis (an increase of the lactic acid levels in the patient’s blood) as well as liver enlargement and / or failure. Viread may also have an effect on the development or the symptoms of lypodystrophy. Viread Drug Reactions There are several medicines that Viread interacts with. Videx EC is one of these, and simultaneous treatment with the two leads to an increase in the Videx EC levels in the patient’s blood, increasing the risk of side effects such as peripheral neuropathy and pancreatitis. Other drugs that interact with this medicine are Reyataz (Atazanavir) and Kaletra; combining therapies results in an alteration of the drug amounts in the patient’s blood. Other drugs, for example Valcyte (Valganciclovir), Vistide (Cidofovir) and Cytovene (Ganciclovir) may increase the chances of side effects, and may also worsen these if present. There may also be other medicines that interact with Viread. It is best to consult with your pharmacist, a doctor or a nurse before starting a treatment with this drug.