What are the most important things to know about zidovudine? What are the most important things to know about zidovudine?
Zidovudine can cause serious, life-threatening side effects. These include severe skin rash and allergic reactions, a buildup of lactic acid in the blood (lactic acidosis), liver problems, muscle disease (myopathy), and blood disorders, such as a very low number of red blood cells (severe anemia) or lower than normal number of white blood cells (neutropenia). Contact your health care provider right away if you have any of the following symptoms that could be signs of liver problems: Zidovudine may cause myopathy, especially when used for a long time. Contact your health care provider if you develop tiredness, muscle pain, or weakness. Zidovudine can cause blood disorders such as very low number of red blood cells (severe anemia) or lower than normal number of white blood cells (neutropenia). Keep all appointments to have your blood count checked while you're taking zidovudine. Worsening of liver disease (sometimes resulting in death) has occurred in people with both HIV and hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) who were taking HIV medicines and interferon with or without ribavirin. If you are using zidovudine as well as interferon with or without ribavirin and you experience side effects, tell your health care provider. While using zidovudine, it is important to keep all of your appointments with your health care provider. What is zidovudine?What is zidovudine? Zidovudine (brand name: Retrovir) is a prescription medicine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the following uses:
For more information on the use of zidovudine in people with HIV, please refer to the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Adults and Adolescents Living with HIV and the Guidelines for the Use of Antiretroviral Agents in Pediatric HIV Infection. For more information on the use of zidovudine to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, please refer to the Recommendations for the Use of Antiretroviral Drugs During Pregnancy and Interventions to Reduce Perinatal HIV Transmission in the United States. HIV medicines cannot cure HIV/AIDS, but taking HIV medicines every day helps people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. HIV medicines also reduce the risk of HIV transmission. If you are taking HIV medicines, do not cut down on, skip, or stop taking them unless your health care provider tells you to. Zidovudine may also be used to treat some conditions associated with human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection in people with HIV. For more information, please refer to the HHV-8 section of the Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV. What should I tell my health care provider before using zidovudine?What should I tell my health care provider before using zidovudine? Before using zidovudine, tell your health care provider:
How should I use zidovudine?How should I use zidovudine? Zidovudine comes in the following forms and strengths:
Use zidovudine according to your health care provider’s instructions. Do not miss a dose of zidovudine, and do not change your dose or stop using zidovudine without first talking with your health care provider. Take zidovudine tablets, capsules, or oral solution by mouth with or without food. If giving zidovudine oral solution to a newborn baby, make sure to use the correct-sized syringe to measure the dose accurately. Zidovudine injection is given by intravenous (IV) infusion. Use zidovudine injection exactly as your health care provider has instructed. If you do not understand how to use zidovudine injection, ask your health care provider. If you have taken or used too much zidovudine, contact your health care provider or local poison control center (1-800-222-1222) right away, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. For more information on how to use zidovudine, see the FDA drug labels for zidovudine tablets and zidovudine capsules, oral solution, and injectable solution. What should I do if I forget a dose?What should I do if I forget a dose? If you miss a dose of zidovudine, take or inject the missed dose as soon as you remember it. But if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and just take or inject your next dose at the regular time. Do not take or inject two doses at the same time to make up for a missed dose. How should zidovudine be stored?How should zidovudine be stored?
ViiV Healthcare Main number: 877-844-8872 Last Reviewed: January 13, 2022 home message |