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What is Zidovudine ZDV
Zidovudine is an antiretroviral nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). It is FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV-1 infections and prevention of perinatal maternal-to-fetal HIV-1 transmission (i.e., antepartum and intrapartum therapy in infected mother, postpartum therapy in exposed neonate).
Due to the development of resistance, zidovudine is not recommended to be given as monotherapy, except when given during pregnancy to prevent HIV transmission to the unborn child.
Brand Name
Retrovir
Indications & Dosage
- Epstein-Barr virus
- hepatitis B virus
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prophylaxis
- human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)
- perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prophylaxis
- T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
NOTE: HIV guidelines recommend avoiding use of zidovudine with stavudine due to the potential for antagonism.
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- amblyopia
- anaphylactoid reactions
- anemia
- angioedema
- anorexia
- anxiety
- aplastic anemia
- arthralgia
- asthenia
- back pain
- bone marrow suppression
- cardiomyopathy
- chest pain (unspecified)
- chills
- confusion
- constipation
- cough
- depression
- diarrhea
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- dysgeusia
- dyspepsia
- dysphagia
- dyspnea
- edema
- elevated hepatic enzymes
- erythema
- esophageal ulceration
- fatigue
- fever
- flatulence
- headache
- hearing loss
- heart failure
- hematuria
- hemolytic anemia
- hepatitis
- hepatomegaly
- hepatotoxicity
- hyperamylasemia
- hyperbilirubinemia
- hyperhidrosis
- increased urinary frequency
- influenza
- insomnia
- irritability
- jaundice
- lactic acidosis
- leukopenia
- lipodystrophy
- lymphadenopathy
- macrocytosis
- macular edema
- malaise
- mania
- musculoskeletal pain
- myalgia
- myopathy
- nail discoloration
- nasal congestion
- nausea
- neutropenia
- oral ulceration
- otalgia
- pancreatitis
- pancytopenia
- paresthesias
- peripheral neuropathy
- photophobia
- pruritus
- rash
- red cell aplasia
- rhabdomyolysis
- rhinitis
- rhinorrhea
- seizures
- sinusitis
- splenomegaly
- steatosis
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- stomatitis
- syncope
- thrombocytopenia
- toxic epidermal necrolysis
- tremor
- urticaria
- vasculitis
- vertigo
- vitamin B12 deficiency
- vomiting
- weight loss
- wheezing
Monitoring Parameters
- blood glucose
- CBC with differential
- CD4+ T cell count
- hepatitis B serology
- LFTs
- plasma hepatitis C RNA
- plasma HIV RNA
- pregnancy testing
- serum bilirubin (total and direct)
- serum cholesterol
- serum creatinine/BUN
- serum lipid profile
- urinalysis
Contraindications
- alcoholism
- anemia
- autoimmune disease
- bone marrow suppression
- breast-feeding
- chemotherapy
- females
- Graves’ disease
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- hepatic disease
- hepatitis
- hepatitis B and HIV coinfection
- hepatitis C and HIV coinfection
- hepatotoxicity or lactic acidosis
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection resistance
- immune reconstitution syndrome
- in utero exposure
- intramuscular administration
- latex hypersensitivity
- myopathy
- neutropenia
- obesity
- pregnancy
- radiation therapy
- renal failure
- renal impairment
- subcutaneous administration
Interactions
- Acetaminophen
- Acetaminophen; Aspirin, ASA; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Butalbital; Caffeine; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Dihydrocodeine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Magnesium Salicylate; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Caffeine; Phenyltoloxamine; Salicylamide
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
- Acetaminophen; Chlorpheniramine; Phenylephrine; Phenyltoloxamine
- Acetaminophen; Codeine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Doxylamine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Dextromethorphan; Pseudoephedrine
- Acetaminophen; Dichloralphenazone; Isometheptene
- Acetaminophen; Diphenhydramine
- Acetaminophen; Guaifenesin; Phenylephrine
- Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone
- Acetaminophen; Oxycodone
- Acetaminophen; Pentazocine
- Acetaminophen; Propoxyphene
- Acetaminophen; Pseudoephedrine
- Acetaminophen; Tramadol
- Adefovir
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Lansoprazole
- Amoxicillin; Clarithromycin; Omeprazole
- Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC)
- Atovaquone
- Atovaquone; Proguanil
- Azathioprine
- Benzhydrocodone; Acetaminophen
- Bortezomib
- Cidofovir
- Clarithromycin
- Clofarabine
- Colchicine; Probenecid
- Cyclophosphamide
- Dapsone
- Dasabuvir; Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Doxorubicin
- Doxorubicin Liposomal
- Echinacea
- Fluconazole
- Flucytosine
- food
- Foscarnet
- Fosphenytoin
- Ganciclovir
- Indinavir
- Interferon Alfa-2b; Ribavirin
- Interferons
- Isoniazid, INH; Pyrazinamide, PZA; Rifampin
- Isoniazid, INH; Rifampin
- Leflunomide
- Lopinavir; Ritonavir
- Methadone
- Nevirapine
- Ombitasvir; Paritaprevir; Ritonavir
- Omeprazole; Amoxicillin; Rifabutin
- Orlistat
- Phenytoin
- Probenecid
- Pyrimethamine
- Pyrimethamine; Sulfadoxine
- Ribavirin
- Rifabutin
- Rifampin
- Rifapentine
- Ritonavir
- Stavudine, d4T
- Sulfamethoxazole; Trimethoprim, SMX-TMP, Cotrimoxazole
- Sulfonamides
- Telbivudine
- Teriflunomide
- Tipranavir
- Trimethoprim
- Valganciclovir
- Valproic Acid, Divalproex Sodium
- Voriconazole