I. Combivir Fact File
Combivir was launched by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
GlaxoSmithKline is a world-leading, research-based pharmaceutical company operating in more than 100 countries and employing more than 100,000 people worldwide. GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is a world leading research-based pharmaceutical company with a powerful combination of skills and resources that provides a platform for delivering strong growth in today's rapidly changing healthcare environment. Headquartered in the UK and with operations based in the US, the new company is one of the industry leaders, with an estimated seven per cent of the world's pharmaceutical market.
GSK has more than 20 research and development (R&D) facilities around the world, with an annual R&D budget of around $7 billion and more than 16,000 people employed in R&D.
GSK also has leadership in four major therapeutic areas - anti-infectives, central nervous system (CNS), respiratory and gastro-intestinal/metabolic. In addition, it is a leader in the important area of vaccines and has a growing portfolio of oncology products.
GSK also has a Consumer Healthcare portfolio comprising over-the-counter (OTC) medicines; oral care products and nutritional healthcare drinks, all of which are among the market leaders.
GSK's R&D is based at 24 sites in seven countries. The company has a leading position in genomics/genetics and new drug discovery technologies. The GSK R&D budget is about £2.4bn/$4bn.
II. Combivir Medication
Combivir medication is the brand name of a tablet that combines EPIVIR Tablets (lamivudine tablets) and RETROVIR (zidovudine) Tablets, two drugs that are used to treat HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV is the virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).
Combivir medication is a combination of lamivudine and zidovudine, two medicines (nucleoside analogues) that slow down the replication of the HIV virus. This can reduce the virus' ability to infect new cells. It may help lower the amount of HIV in your body (called “viral load”) and raise your CD4 (T) cell count. Lamivudine plus zidovudine when used together can have stronger (synergistic) effects against the virus.
Generic Combivir medication is a convenient way of taking lamivudine and zidovudine.
Generic Combivir should usually be taken with other anti-HIV therapy.
AIDS: Information
AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) is the most serious stage of HIV infection. It results from the destruction of the infected person's immune system. Your immune system is your body's defense system. Cells of your immune system fight off infection and other diseases. If your immune system does not work well, you are at risk for serious and life-threatening infections and cancers. HIV attacks and destroys the disease-fighting cells of the immune system, leaving the body with a weakened defense against infections and cancer.
The AIDS-defining conditions
In December 1992, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the most current list of AIDS-defining conditions. The AIDS-defining conditions are:
- Candidiasis
- Cervical cancer (invasive)
- Coccidioidomycosis, Cryptococcosis, Cryptosporidiosis
- Cytomegalovirus disease
- Encephalopathy (HIV-related)
- Herpes simplex (severe infection)
- Histoplasmosis
- Isosporiasis
- Kaposi's sarcoma
- Lymphoma (certain types)
- Mycobacterium avium complex
- Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia
- Pneumonia (recurrent)
- Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy
- Salmonella septicemia (recurrent)
- Toxoplasmosis of the brain
- Tuberculosis
- Wasting syndrome
People who are not infected with HIV may also develop these diseases; this does not mean they have AIDS. To be diagnosed with AIDS, a person must be infected with HIV.
AIDS is identified on the basis of certain infections, grouped by the World Health Organization:
- Stage 1 HIV disease is asymptomatic and not categorized as AIDS
- Stage II (includes minor mucocutaneous manifestations and recurrent upper respiratory tract infections)
- Stage III (includes unexplained chronic diarrhea for longer than a month, severe bacterial infections and pulmonary tuberculosis) or
- Stage IV (includes Toxoplasmosis of the brain, Candidiasis of the oesophagus, trachea, bronchi or lungs and Kaposi's Sarcoma) HIV disease is used as indicators of AIDS. Most of these conditions are opportunistic infections that can be treated easily in healthy people.
HIV: Information
HIV stands for 'human immunodeficiency virus'. HIV is a retrovirus that infects cells of the human immune system (mainly CD4 positive T cells and macrophages—key components of the cellular immune system), and destroys or impairs their function. Infection with this virus results in the progressive depletion of the immune system, leading to 'immune deficiency'.
The immune system is considered deficient when it can no longer fulfill its role of fighting off infection and diseases. Immuno-deficient people are much more vulnerable to a wide range of infections, most of which are very rare among people without immune deficiency. Diseases associated with severe immunodeficiency are known as 'opportunistic infections', because they take advantage of a weakened immune system.
Symptoms of HIV
Most people infected with HIV do not know that they have become infected, because no symptoms develop immediately after the initial infection. Some people have a glandular fever-like illness (with fever, rash, joint pains and enlarged lymph nodes), which can occur at the time of seroconversion. Seroconversion refers to the development of antibodies to HIV and usually takes place between 6 weeks and 3 months after an infection has occurred.
Despite the fact that HIV infection does not cause any initial symptoms, an HIV-infected person is highly infectious and can transmit the virus to another person. The only way to determine whether HIV is present in a person's body is by taking an HIV test.
HIV infection causes a gradual depletion and weakening of the immune system. This results in an increased susceptibility of the body to infections and can lead to the development of AIDS.
Which disease-fighting cells does HIV attack?
CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that fights infections. They are also called CD4+ T cells or CD4 T lymphocytes. A CD4 count is the number of CD4 cells in a sample of blood. When HIV enters a person's CD4 cells, it uses the cells to make copies of itself. This process destroys the CD4 cells, and the CD4 count goes down. As you lose CD4 cells, your immune system becomes weak. A weakened immune system makes it harder for your body to fight infections and cancer.
HIV
- HIV is a retrovirus.
- HIV is an enveloped retrovirus. Each virus particle contains two copies of an RNA genome. The virus also has a number of enzymes: reverse transcriptase, integrase and viral protease. These molecules play an important role in making new copies of HIV and can be the targets of antiretroviral drugs. The HIV viral particle, or virion, has a capsid, which is cone-shaped and is enclosed in a lipid bilayer, or envelope. This envelope contains viral glycoproteins, which bind specifically to CD4 T cell receptors, enabling the virus to enter its host.
- The name retrovirus comes from the fact that the RNA genome is transcribed/copied back into DNA in the host cell (by reverse transcriptase). The DNA is then incorporated into the host cell chromosome.
Diagram 2
- HIV belongs to a group of retroviruses called lentiviruses, from the Latin lentus, meaning slow, because of the gradual course of the disease they cause.
Side effects of Aids Drugs When you start antiviral treatment, you may get headaches, hypertension, or a general sense of feeling ill. These usually improve or disappear over time.
- Fatigue: Most people with HIV feel tired at least part of the time. It's important to find the cause of fatigue and deal with it.
- Anemia can cause fatigue. Anemia increases your risk of getting sicker with HIV infection. Routine blood tests can detect anemia, and it can be treated.
- Digestive Problems: Many drugs can make you feel sick to your stomach. They can cause nausea, vomiting, gas, or diarrhea. Home remedies include:
- Instead of three big meals, eat small amounts, more often.
- Eat mild foods and soups, not spicy.
- Ginger ale or ginger tea might settle your stomach. So can the smell of fresh lemon.
Don't skip meals or to lose too much weight! Marijuana can reduce nausea. Be careful with over-the-counter or prescription nausea drugs. They can interact with HIV medications.
- Gas and bloating can be reduced by avoiding foods like beans, some raw vegetables, and vegetable skins.
- Diarrhea can range from a small hassle to a serious condition. Tell your doctor if diarrhea goes on too long or if it's serious.
- Lipodystrophy includes fat loss in arms, legs and face; fat gain in the stomach or behind the neck; and increases in fats (cholesterol) and sugar (glucose) in the blood. These changes may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Skin Problems: Some medications cause rashes. Most are temporary, but in rare cases they indicate a serious reaction. Talk to your doctor if you have a rash. Other skin problems include dry skin or hair loss. Moisturizers help some skin problems.
- Neuropathy is a painful condition caused by nerve damage. It normally starts in the feet or hands.
- Mitochondrial Toxicity is damage to structures inside the cells. It might cause neuropathy or kidney damage, and can cause a buildup of lactic acid in the body.
- Bone Problems have recently been identified in people with HIV. Bones can lose their mineral content and become brittle. A loss of blood supply can cause hip problems.
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III. Useful links
Government http://www.cdc.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/
http://www.fda.gov/cder/ogd/
http://www.nih.gov/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi
http://www.health.gov.on.ca/
National Library of Medicine
World Health Organization
Health Sites
http://www.mayoclinic.com/index.cfm
MedicineNet.com
Drugdigest.org
Healthsquare.com
http://www.treathiv.com/combivir/?a=37
http://www.gsk.com/about/about.htm
http://www.unaids.org
Pharmacy sites
http://www.roche.com/home/company/com_hist.htm
http://www.healthdigest.org/Bactrim-DS(Oral)_2006_PRO.php
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1509
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1516
http://www.hsforum.com/stories/storyReader$1504
http://www.people.vcu.edu/~urdesai/atc.htm#Process%20of%20clotting
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