| Drug |
Use in Children |
Use in Newborns & Infants |
Pediatric Formulation |
Emtriva
(emtricitabine) |
The correct dose of Emtriva will depend on the child's weight. |
Emtriva should not be used by infants younger than 3 months of age. For infants 3 months of age and older, the dose is 4 mg per kilogram of body weight, once a day. |
A liquid solution of Emtriva is available for babies and children, which is easier to give to young children than the adult capsules. |
| Epivir (lamivudine) |
The correct dose of Epivir will depend on the child's weight. |
Epivir can be used by newborns and infants younger than 30 days of age. The usual dose is 2 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day. |
A liquid solution of Epivir is available for babies and children. A lower dose tablet is available for children who can swallow pills. |
| Retrovir (zidovudine) |
The correct dose of Retrovir, or its generic counterpart (available in U.S. pharmacies), will depend on the size of the child. |
Retrovir and generic zidovudine can be used by newborns and infants younger than 4 weeks of age, to either prevent transmission of the virus at the time of birth of as treatment for HIV infection. The correct dose will depend on the weight of the baby. The usual dose is 2 mg per kilogram of body weight, every 6 hours. Newborns and infants may also receive the drug intravenously, particularly if they are hospitalized. A dose is also available for babies born prematurely. |
A syrup formulation of Retrovir and generic zidovudine is available for babies and children, which is easier to give to young children than the adult capsules. |
| Videx (didanosine) |
The correct dose of Videx will depend on the size of the child. |
Videx can be used by infants between 2 weeks and 8 months of age. The correct dose will depend on the size of the child. The usual dose is 100 mg per square meter of body surface area, every 12 hours. |
A powder formulation of Videx and generic didanosine is available, which needs to be mixed with water and given to the child on an empty stomach, meaning no food or other medications taken at the same time as Videx. For older children, capsules and chewable tablets (which can also be dispersed in water) are available. |
| Viread (tenofovir DF) |
The correct dose of Viread will depend on the child's body weight. |
Not yet approved or studied in HIV-positive patients younger than 2 years of age. |
Three lower-dose tablets for children have been approved: Viread tablets in doses of 150 mg, 200 mg and 250 mg are available (the adult dose is one 300 mg tablet once a day). An oral powder version is also available for children between 2 and 5 years of age. |
| Zerit (stavudine) |
The correct dose of Zerit, or its generic counterpart (available in U.S. pharmacies), will depend on the child's weight. |
At birth, and until the infant is 13 days old, the dose should be 0.5 mg per kilogram of body weight, twice a day. Standard pediatric doses should be followed for children 14 days of age and older. |
A liquid solution of Zerit and generic stavudine is available for babies and children, which is easier to give to young children than the adult capsules. |
| Ziagen (abacavir) |
The correct dose of Ziagen will depend on the child's weight. All children should be tested for an gene, called HLA-B*5701, before starting Ziagen. This inherited gene is associated with an increased risk of a serious allergic reaction to Ziagen; if it is found using the inexpensive test, Ziagen should not be started. |
Ziagen is not yet approved for newborns and infants younger than three months of age. |
A liquid solution of Ziagen is available for babies and children. The makers of Ziagen have also developed a scored tablet that can be easily divided for children who can swallow pills. |
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