Lamivudine Oral: Dosing, Duration, and Precautions
Lamivudine guidance for HIV treatment with weight-based tablet and oral-solution dosing across infants, children, and adults.
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Source reviewed
November 2022
Guide category
Oral drugs
Safety boundary
Prescription medicine information for clinician-guided use.
Kenza Health Hub presents this medicine page as structured health education. Check dose, route, interactions, pregnancy or breast-feeding considerations, and local protocol with a qualified clinician or pharmacist. Read our medical editorial policy.
Therapeutic action
Antiretroviral, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor.
Indications
HIV infection, in combination with other antiretrovirals.
Forms and strengths
- 150 mg tablet.
- 50 mg/5 ml oral solution.
Dose
The daily dose is administered once daily or in 2 divided doses.
Child 1 month and over and adult
- 3 to < 6 kg: 60 mg daily, 3 ml 2 times daily.
- 6 to < 10 kg: 80 mg daily, 4 ml 2 times daily.
- 10 to < 14 kg: 120 mg daily, 6 ml 2 times daily.
- 14 to < 20 kg: 150 mg daily, 1/2 tablet 2 times daily or 1 tablet once daily.
- 20 to < 25 kg: 225 mg daily, 1/2 tablet in the morning and 1 tablet in the evening or 1 1/2 tablets once daily.
- >= 25 kg: 300 mg daily, 1 tablet 2 times daily or 2 tablets once daily.
| Weight | Daily dose | 50 mg/5 ml oral solution | 150 mg tablet |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 to < 6 kg | 60 mg | 3 ml x 2 | - |
| 6 to < 10 kg | 80 mg | 4 ml x 2 | - |
| 10 to < 14 kg | 120 mg | 6 ml x 2 | - |
| 14 to < 20 kg | 150 mg | - | 1/2 tab x 2 or 1 tab x 1 |
| 20 to < 25 kg | 225 mg | - | 1/2 tab morning and 1 tab evening or 1 1/2 tab x 1 |
| >= 25 kg | 300 mg | - | 1 tab x 2 or 2 tab x 1 |
Duration
Depending on the efficacy and tolerance of lamivudine.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Administer with caution to patients with a history of hepatic disorders.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances and possibly haematological disorders, myopathy, hepatic disorders, or pancreatic disorders.
- Reduce dosage in patients with renal impairment.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page combines source-derived medicine reference sections with Kenza editorial context, while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections from the source batch.
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