Stavudine

Stavudine should be avoided if you are allergic to it or If you are pregnant and breastfeeding. Inform your doctor about your medical history and the medicines you take to prevent possible interactions. Before taking this medicine, inform your doctor if you have heart problems, liver/kidney diseases, blood disorders, or gastrointestinal disorders. This medicine may cause hepatic impairment, severe anaemia, pancreatitis, lactic acidosis, severe hepatomegaly with steatosis, hepatic toxicity, or peripheral problems. Inform your doctor about your complete medication history, especially the use of Stavudine with didanosine and hydroxyurea regimen or interferon and ribavirin-based regimen, zidovudine, ganciclovir, ritonavir, daunorubicin, bleomycin, idarubicin, epirubicin and doxorubicin as it can cause serious adverse effects. Stavudine should be used in children only if recommended by the doctor. If prescribed, the child should be carefully monitored for any changes. Stavudine treats the infection but does not cure or prevent it. This medicine may cause dizziness; hence, avoid driving or operating machines while taking Stavudine.

Drug-Drug Interactions: Stavudine may interact with antifungal medications (e.g. Ketoconazole), anticancer medications (e.g. Bexarotene, Pexidartinib), antirheumatic drugs (e.g. Leflunomide), lipid-lowering drugs (e.g. lomitapide) and HIV medications (e.g. Zidovudine)

Drug-Food Interactions: Avoid smoking and alcohol consumption.

Drug-Disease Interactions: Stavudine interacts with various disease conditions, including Bone Marrow Depression/Low Blood Counts, hepatotoxicity (damage to your liver), diabetes, Alcoholism, pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation), Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol), Peripheral neuropathy (peripheral nerve damage) and Renal dysfunction.

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet. Eat vitamin-rich and nutrient-rich food such as vegetables and fruit, which helps to boost your immune system. Try to take lean protein and whole grains.
• Avoid eating raw meat and eggs. Consume properly boiled and cooked meat, poultry or seafood.
• Eat bland and low-fat foods, and avoid spicy or oily foods if you experience nausea or vomiting.
• Get tested for other sexually transmitted infections, such as gonorrhoea or syphilis.
• Try to reduce emotional and physical stress by spending time with your family or doing whatever makes you happy.
• Drink more fluids and avoid alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration.
• Never share personal items with body fluids or blood on them, such as razor blades or toothbrushes.
• Avoid sharing used needles, other injection or drug equipment.

• Get an HIV test done at least every three months.
• You may still develop infections or other illnesses associated with HIV infection or AIDS. So, people taking Stavudine should be carefully monitored throughout the treatment.
• Regular kidney and liver function and bone mineral density tests while taking Stavudine are advised. Regularly get blood and urine tests done while taking Stavudine.