Zidovudine + lamivudine: new preparation. Fewer tablets required

(1) Combivir is a fixed-dose combination of two HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitors: zidovudine (300 mg) + lamivudine (150 mg). (2) A meta-analysis of four trials shows that this combination is more effective clinically than zidovudine monotherapy. One trial also shows that clinical efficacy is even better with the triple combination of the protease inhibitor indinavir with zidovudine + lamivudine. (3) The risk of anaemia and neutropaenia necessitates blood cell monitoring during treatment. (4) Compared with lamivudine and zidovudine taken separately, Combivir does not reduce the frequency of doses (two a day), but the daily number of tablets falls from four to two, provided that the patient does not require dose adjustment.