About zidovudine
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor
Used for
- Treatment of HIV infection as part of combination therapy
- Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission
- Prevention after certain occupational or sexual HIV exposures, with other medicines
Usual adult dose
HIV treatment: 300 mg by mouth twice daily with other antiretrovirals. Exposure prevention doses depend on the regimen.
Usual dose in children
HIV treatment: dosing is based on age, weight, and formulation; commonly 9 mg/kg by mouth twice daily, maximum 300 mg twice daily.
Common side effects
- Nausea, headache, or tiredness
- Low red or white blood cell counts
- Muscle pain or weakness
- Rare liver problems or lactic acidosis
Important warnings
- Can cause serious anemia or low white blood cells; blood-count monitoring is needed.
- Long-term use can cause muscle damage; report unexplained muscle pain or weakness.
- Rarely causes severe liver enlargement, liver injury, or lactic acidosis.
- Use with other HIV medicines; do not stop treatment without medical guidance.
Pregnancy
Used during pregnancy to treat HIV and reduce transmission to the baby; treatment should follow specialist guidance.
Breastfeeding
HIV can pass through breast milk; zidovudine does not eliminate this risk. Follow local HIV-feeding guidance.
Interactions
- Ribavirin and stavudine may reduce zidovudine effectiveness or increase toxicity.
- Other medicines that suppress bone marrow can worsen anemia or low white blood cells.
- Probenecid can increase zidovudine levels.
- Check all medicines with a clinician or pharmacist before combining.
AI-generated from general medical knowledge, not from this product's official leaflet. It may be incomplete or out of date. Not medical advice — ask a pharmacist or doctor before making any decision.