Combivir and Insomnia

Side effects are possible with Combivir, and insomnia is one of the most common, occurring in 11 percent of people taking the drug. However, due to the nature of clinical trials, it's hard to know with certainty if the medication is causing this side effect or if it's due to other factors. If you are taking Combivir and insomnia symptoms occur, try improving your sleep habits -- and be sure to talk with your healthcare provider.

 

Combivir and Insomnia: An Introduction

Insomnia is a relatively common side effect of Combivir® (lamivudine/zidovudine). In clinical trials, 11 percent of people who took the combination of lamivudine and zidovudine (the active ingredients in Combivir) experienced insomnia or other sleep disorders. However, it is difficult to say with certainty that Combivir causes insomnia, since these studies did not compare the medication to a placebo (a "sugar pill" with no active ingredients). Without knowing how commonly insomnia occurs in similar people not taking Combivir, it is not possible to evaluate if the drug actually increases this risk.
 

What Is Insomnia?

People with insomnia may have one or more of the following symptoms:
 
  • Difficulty falling asleep
  • Waking up often during the night and having trouble going back to sleep
  • Waking up too early in the morning
  • Non-refreshing sleep.
     

Combivir and Insomnia: Suggestions

If you are taking Combivir and insomnia occurs, the cure may lie in improving your sleep habits. Some tips for better sleep include the following:
 
  • Sleep in a dark, quiet room with a comfortable temperature.
  • Keep a regular sleep-wake cycle. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day.
  • Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine in the four to six hours before bedtime.
  • Don't exercise within two hours of bedtime. Exercising five or six hours before bedtime, however, may help you sleep more soundly.
  • Don't eat large meals within two hours of bedtime.
  • Don't nap later than 3 p.m.
  • If you can't fall asleep within 20 minutes, do a quiet activity somewhere else and return to bed when you're sleepy.
  • Wind down in the 30 minutes before bedtime with a relaxing pre-sleep ritual, such as a warm bath, soft music, or reading.
     
(Click Good Sleep Habits for more suggestions.)
 
(Combivir and Insomnia Continued: Page 2)
Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;