3TC Dosage/Direction for Use

3TC therapy should be initiated by a physician experienced in the management of HIV infection.
3TC can be taken with or without food.
To ensure administration of the entire dose, the tablet(s) should ideally be swallowed without crushing. For patients who are unable to swallow tablets, lamivudine is available as an oral solution. Alternatively, the tablets may be crushed and added to a small amount of semi-solid food or liquid, all of which should be consumed immediately (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Adults, adolescents and children weighing at least 25 kg: The recommended dose of 3TC is 300 mg daily. This may be administered as 150 mg (15 ml oral solution, 1 x 150 mg tablet) twice daily or 300 mg (30 ml oral solution, 2 x 150 mg tablet) once daily (see Precautions).
Children aged more than three months and weighing less than 25 kg: Oral solution: The recommended dose is 4 mg/kg twice daily up to a maximum of 300 mg daily (see Precautions).
FC tablet: Children weighing 14 to < 20 kg: The recommended oral dose of 3TC is either one half tablet taken twice daily or one whole tablet taken once daily.
For children weighing ≥ 20 kg to <25 kg: The recommended oral dose of 3TC (150 mg) is one-half tablet taken in the morning and one whole tablet taken in the evening.
Children weighing at least 25 kg: The adult dosage of 150 mg twice daily or 300 mg once daily should be taken.
Children less than three months: The limited data available are insufficient to propose specific dosage recommendations (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).
Elderly: No specific data are available, however, special care is advised in this age group due to age associated changes such as the decrease in renal function and alteration of haematological parameters.
Renal impairment: Lamivudine plasma concentrations (AUC) are increased in patients with moderate to severe renal impairment due to decreased clearance (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions). The dosage should therefore be reduced for patients with a creatinine clearance of less than 50 ml/min as shown in the table as follows. The same percentage reduction in dose applies for paediatric patients with renal impairment.
When doses below 150 mg are required 3TC oral solution is recommended. (See Table 3, Table 4.)

Click on icon to see table/diagram/image


Click on icon to see table/diagram/image

Hepatic impairment: No dose adjustment is necessary in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment unless accompanied by renal impairment (see Pharmacology: Pharmacokinetics under Actions).