What is Zerit ?
Zerit belongs to a class of drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors which are used to treat HIV infection. In order to treat HIV effectively, Zerit MUST be taken in combination with other HIV medications as prescribed.

How does Zerit work ?
Zerit interferes with a very important HIV specific enzyme and impairs the HIV viruses ability to replicate. Zerit, like all nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors, interferes with a different HIV enzyme then the protease inhibitors. When Zerit is taken in combination with other HIV medications the goal is to prevent the virus from further weakening the immune system. If Zerit is effective then you should expect to see an increase in T-cells (CD4 immune cells) and decrease in HIV viral load. Not everyone responds to Zerit, however you can improve the chance that Zerit will work by taking all your medications everyday.

How should Zerit be taken ?
Zerit can be taken with or without food. The usual dose of Zerit is 40 mg twice a day (one capsule in the morning and one capsule in the evening). However, sometimes this dose will be less depending on a persons weight and kidney function.

It is very important to try not to miss or skip any doses. The fewer doses a person skips the fewer opportunities the HIV virus has to develop resistance to the medication.

What does Zerit look like ?
Zerit comes in four different doses: 40mg, 30mg, 20mg, and 15mg capsules. The 40mg capsule is often described as orange/brown in color, 30mg capsule is half brown and half yellow, the 20mg capsule is light brown, and the 15mg capsule is half yellow and half red.

What are potential side effects of Zerit ?
Headache, nausea, fatigue, and weakness happen occasionally. Zerit can also cause peripheral neuropathy which can feel like tingling, burning, numbness, or pain in the toes or feet and less commonly in the fingers and hands. Please tell your medical provider if you have symptoms of peripheral nueropathy. Providers may treat the symptoms with other medications or some may decrease the dose of Zerit, while others may decide Zerit must be discontinued.