Compare Viread vs. Zerit
Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, ratings, and more.
Works with other medicines to treat HIV infection. Also treats Hepatitis B Virus.
Viread (tenofovir) is a first-line choice to be used in combination with other medications to treat HIV. Viread (tenofovir) is also a first-line choice in treating HBV.
Works with other medicines to treat HIV infection.
Within the Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI) drug class, stavudine can be a difficult drug to take. stavudine has numerous serious side effects and probably won't be your first choice.
Upsides
- Can be used with other medications to prevent HIV infection after an exposure.
- Taken only once daily, with or without food.
- There are newer formulations of Viread (tenofovir) available that are safer on your kidneys.
- If tablets are hard for you to swallow, Viread (tenofovir) is available in a powder that's mixed with soft foods.
- stavudine is provided as both capsules and an oral solution.
- Take with or without food.
- Can be used by patients on dialysis.
- While stavudine doesn’t cure HIV, it does reduce the number of viral copies being made in your blood, giving your healthy immune cells (CD4 cells) a better chance to do their job.
Downsides
- Viread (tenofovir) can't be used on its own to treat HIV infection.
- Not recommended for patients with kidney damage.
- Can weaken your bones.
- Might worsen hepatitis B infections if you suddenly stop taking it.
- Must take twice a day, every 12 hours.
- The amount of stavudine you will take is based on your body weight, kidney, and liver function.
- Interacts with many different medications.
- May cause serious side effects in your liver, kidneys, and pancreas.
- Can cause significant tingling in your hands or feet.
Used for
- HIV infection
- Hepatitis B
- HIV prevention
- HIV infection
Dosage forms
- Pill
- Powder
- Pill
- Liquid
Price
Lowest price
$22.99
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Side effects
The Zerit (Stavudine) FDA package insert doesn’t have numbers about how common side effects are.
Risks and risk factors
- Lactic acidosis | Enlarged, fatty liver
- Liver disease
- Women
- Obesity
- Cannot be used to treat Hepatitis B Virus (HBV)
- Hepatitis B Virus infection
- Mood and behavior changes
- History of mental illness
- Decreased bone mineral density
- History of bone fractures
- Osteoporosis
- Kidney damage
- History of kidney damage
- Concurrent use of other drugs known to harm kidneys
- Hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions
- Prior severe allergic reaction to Viread (tenofovir) or any of its individual drug components.
- Lactic acidosis
- Pancreatitis
- Liver damage
- Use of hydroxyurea, didanosine, and stavudine together
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Immune reconstitution syndrome
- HIV
- Exposure to other infections
- Start of a new HIV medication
- Change in HIV therapy
- Fat Redistribution
- HIV treatment