Ziagen is a prescription medication that is used for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. This eMedTV article provides an overview of how the drug works, explains what you should know before taking Ziagen, and lists possible side effects that may occur.
Common Ziagen side effects may include sleep disorders, headaches, and nausea. This selection from the eMedTV Web site lists other possible side effects of Ziagen and describes potentially serious side effects that may require immediate medical care.
There are several side effects of Ziagen, and depression appears to be one of them. This eMedTV page discusses the results of clinical studies involving Ziagen and depression, and explains why it is hard to tell whether Ziagen alone causes depression.
Ziagen is approved for use in combination with other medicines to treat HIV and AIDS in adults and children. This eMedTV resource explores Ziagen uses in more detail, including off-label uses, and also discusses how the drug works.
The Ziagen dosage for treating HIV or AIDS in adults is 300 mg twice daily. This part of the eMedTV archives takes an in-depth look at Ziagen dosing guidelines (including dosage amounts for children) and also offers tips for taking the medication.
Drugs that may interact with Ziagen include ganciclovir, methadone, and alcohol. This part of the eMedTV library outlines other medicines that may cause Ziagen drug interactions and describes the complications that these interactions can cause.
Missing doses of Ziagen can increase the chance of the virus becoming resistant to HIV medicines. This eMedTV article offers other important information on Ziagen warnings and precautions, including a list of who should not take the drug.
This eMedTV page explains that if you overdose on Ziagen, you may develop potentially dangerous side effects (such as liver damage and bone marrow suppression). This page lists the potential effects of a Ziagen overdose and covers treatment options.
It is not known if it is safe to take Ziagen during pregnancy. This portion of the eMedTV Web site discusses the results of animal studies involving Ziagen and pregnancy, and describes the complications the medicine can cause (such as birth defects).
In general, women who are taking Ziagen should avoid breastfeeding. This article from the eMedTV archives describes the animal research that has been conducted on Ziagen and breastfeeding, and explains the possible risks of nursing if you have HIV.
Patents currently prevent any generic Ziagen from being made in the United States. This eMedTV page explains that 2009 is the earliest date that a generic Ziagen could become available. This page also warns people about fake generic Ziagen products.
