If you have hepatitis B virus infection or suspect that you may have it, let your doctor know (HBV; an ongoing liver infection). Before you start your dolutegravir and lamivudine medication, your doctor may do a test to determine whether you have HBV. If you have HBV and take lamivudine and dolutegravir, your health could abruptly get worse if you stop taking them. For several months after you stop taking dolutegravir and lamivudine, your doctor will check on you and place lab test orders to see if your HBV has gotten worse.

Keep all of your appointments with your physician and the lab. To monitor your body’s reaction to dolutegravir and lamivudine, your doctor may prescribe specific tests.

Discuss the dangers of taking lamivudine with dolutegravir with your doctor.

Dolutegravir and lamivudine are prescribed together to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in some patients who have never been treated with HIV medications before or in some patients who have responded favourably to their HIV treatment regimens and have not previously had a history of unfavourable responses. Dolutegravir belongs to the family of drugs known as integrase strand transfer inhibitors, while lamivudine is in the category of drugs known as nucleoside analogue reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) (INSTIs). Together, they help to lower the level of HIV in your blood. Despite the fact that dolutegravir and lamivudine cannot treat HIV, they may lower your risk of getting AIDS and other HIV-related conditions like cancer and dangerous infections. The risk of contracting or spreading the HIV virus to others may be reduced by taking these medications, engaging in safer sexual behaviour, and changing other aspects of one’s lifestyle.

Dolutegravir and lamivudine are available as a tablet that should be swallowed. It is typically taken once day, with or without food. Take lamivudine and dolutegravir at roughly the same time each day. Ask your doctor or chemist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Dolutegravir and Lamivudine should be taken exactly as prescribed. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Lamivudine and dolutegravir aid in the management of HIV infection but do not treat it. Even if you feel well, keep taking lamivudine and dolutegravir. Do not discontinue taking lamivudine and dolutegravir without first consulting your doctor. Your condition could get worse if you stop taking dolutegravir with lamivudine or if you miss doses. Ask your doctor or chemist for more dolutegravir and lamivudine when you run out of those medications.

For a copy of the manufacturer’s information for the patient, ask your chemist or doctor.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.

Before taking dolutegravir and lamivudine,

• If you have any allergies, including to dolutegravir, lamivudine, other drugs, or any of the substances in dolutegravir and lamivudine tablets, inform your doctor right away. Get a list of the ingredients from your chemist.
• If you are on dofetilide, let your doctor know (Tikosyn). If you are taking this medicine, your doctor will probably advise you to avoid taking dolutegravir and lamivudine together.
• Inform your physician and chemist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, or dietary supplements you are now taking or intend to take. Any of the following should be mentioned: Oxcarbazepine (Oxtellar XR, Trileptal), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, in Rifamate, in Rifater), and sorbitol or drugs that include sorbitol. Your doctor might need to adjust your medication doses or keep a close eye out for any negative side effects.
• Take them at least 2 hours after or 6 hours before you take dolutegravir and lamivudine if you are using antacids or laxatives that contain aluminium or magnesium, sucralfate (Carafate), or buffered drugs such buffered aspirin.
• If you are taking multivitamins or iron- or calcium-containing supplements, take them at the same time as you take lamivudine and dolutegravir with food, or at least two hours after or six hours before.
• Please let your doctor know if you are taking any herbal supplements, especially St. John’s wort.
• Inform your doctor if you have or have previously had renal disease, another liver illness, or an ongoing liver infection caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
• If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, inform your doctor right away. Before beginning treatment, you must perform a pregnancy test. Pregnancy should be avoided while taking lamivudine and dolutegravir. See your doctor about reliable birth control options you can take while undergoing therapy. Call your doctor right away if you conceive while taking lamivudine and dolutegravir.
• If you are breastfeeding, let your doctor know. If you have HIV or are taking dolutegravir and lamivudine, you shouldn’t breastfeed.
• You should be aware that while you use medications to treat your HIV infection, your immune system could become stronger and start to fight other infections you previously have in your body or trigger the development of other illnesses. You might start to exhibit signs of certain illnesses as a result of this. Tell your doctor right away if your symptoms while your dolutegravir and lamivudine treatment are new or are getting worse.

Keep eating normally unless your doctor instructs you otherwise.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

Dolutegravir and lamivudine may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

• Headache
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Having trouble falling or staying asleep
• Tiredness
• Muscular tremor
• Dizziness
• Anxiety

Some adverse effects may be severe. Call your doctor right away if you encounter any of these signs or any of the ones detailed in the section on SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS:

• Abdomen discomfort, pale faeces, dark urine, nausea, vomiting, and a yellowing of the eyes or skin are some symptoms to watch out for.
• Extreme fatigue or weakness, muscle discomfort, breathing issues, stomach pain, nauseousness, vomiting, feeling chilly, especially in your arms and legs, disorientation, and an irregular or erratic heartbeat
• Rash (without any additional symptoms)

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Stop taking lamivudine and dolutegravir and call your doctor right away if you develop any of these symptoms, or seek emergency medical attention:

• Hives, face, throat, tongue, or lip swelling; red or swollen eyes; difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Any of the following symptoms plus a rash; fever, flu-like symptoms, intense exhaustion, aches in the muscles or joints, blistering or peeling skin, mouth sores or blisters, or red, itchy, watery eyes

Lamivudine with dolutegravir may also have other adverse effects. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your chemist or the garbage/recycling agency in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Inform the lab staff and your doctor that you are taking lamivudine and dolutegravir prior to any laboratory test.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding prescription refills should be directed to your chemist.

Lamivudine and dolutegravir should always be available. Do not put off getting a refill on your prescription until you are out of medicine.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.