Stavudine is used for:

Treating HIV infection when used in combination with other medicines.

Stavudine is a nucleoside analogue antiviral. It blocks the growth of HIV.

Do NOT use Stavudine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Stavudine
• you are taking zidovudine
• you have abnormal liver function tests, an enlarged liver, or lactic acidosis

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Stavudine :

Some medical conditions may interact with Stavudine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have kidney or liver problems, inflammation of the pancreas, gallstones, or problems with tingling or numbness in your hands or feet, or if you drink alcohol

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Stavudine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Methadone or zidovudine because the effectiveness of Stavudine may be decreased
• Didanosine because the risk of side effects, including lactic acidosis, may be increased

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Stavudine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Stavudine :

Use Stavudine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Stavudine may be taken with or without food.
• Stavudine comes with an additional patient leaflet. Read it carefully and reread it each time you get Stavudine refilled.
• Continue to take Stavudine even if you feel well. Do not miss any doses.
• If you miss a dose of Stavudine , take it as soon as possible. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Stavudine.

Important safety information:

• Stavudine offers no protection from the transmission of HIV to others through sexual contact or blood contamination. Use barrier forms of contraception (eg, condoms) if you are infected with HIV. Do not share needles, other injection equipment, or personal items such as toothbrushes or razor blades.
• Stavudine is not a cure for HIV infection and patients may continue to acquire illnesses and infections associated with HIV. Remain under the care of your doctor.
• When your medicine supply begins to run low, get more from your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible. The virus may develop resistance to Stavudine and become more difficult to treat if you stop taking it, even for a short period of time.
• Changes in body fat may occur while you are taking Stavudine (eg, increased fat in upper back and stomach areas, decreased fat in the arms and legs). The cause and long-term effects of these changes are unknown. Discuss the risks and benefits of therapy with your doctor, as well as the possible role of exercise to reduce this side effect.
• LAB TESTS, including liver or kidney function tests, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Stavudine may decrease the effectiveness of your birth control pill. To prevent pregnancy, be sure to use an additional form of birth control while using Stavudine.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: It is unknown if Stavudine can cause harm to the fetus. If you become pregnant, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Stavudine during pregnancy. It is unknown if Stavudine is excreted in breast milk. HIV-infected mothers should not breastfeed their infants because of the risk of transmitting the HIV infection or Stavudine.

Possible side effects of Stavudine :

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Changes in body fat; constipation; diarrhea; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); chills; dark urine; fever; lactic acid imbalance (general body discomfort, cold feeling, dizziness, lightheadedness, slow or irregular heartbeat); muscle aches or weakness; numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet; prolonged nausea and vomiting; rapid breathing; shortness of breath; sore throat; stomach pain; sudden weight loss; unusual tiredness or weakness; weakness in the arms or legs; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

What is the shelf life of the pills?

• The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.