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Zidovudine
Zidovudine
Pronunciation
(zye DOE vyoo deen)
Brand Names
Retrovir®
Canadian/Mexican Brand Names
Apo-Zidovudine® (Canada); Dipedyne (Mexico); Kenamil (Mexico); Novo-AZT
(Canada); Retrovir-AZT (Mexico)
Therapeutic Categories
Antiretroviral Agent, Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NRTI)
[Thymidine Analog]
What is this medicine used for?
- This medicine is used to treat HIV infection. It is usually taken with 2
other medicines.
How does it work?
- Zidovudine stops the HIV virus from increasing. It blocks reproduction of
the virus.
How is it best taken?
- The medicine must be taken exactly as directed.
- Take on an empty stomach. Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals.
- Avoid a high fat meal after taking this medicine.
What do I do if I miss a dose?
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to your
regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop taking medicine without talking with healthcare
provider.
What are the precautions when taking this
medicine?
- Check medicines with healthcare provider. This medicine may not mix well
with other medicines.
- Do not run out of this medication. Get it refilled today!
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make sure to
tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling about
rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of face,
lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Protect against sexual spread of disease. Use an effective method of birth
control. Talk with healthcare provider if you have questions.
- Can be used in pregnancy (helps decrease baby's risk of getting HIV
disease).
- Breast-feeding is not recommended in HIV disease.
What are the common side effects of this
medicine?
- Nausea or vomiting. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard
candy, or chewing gum may help.
- Headache.
- Anemia and low white blood cell count (can get infections easier).
- Fever.
- Rash.
- Weakness.
- No appetite.
What should I monitor?
- Check blood work. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Follow up with healthcare provider.
Reasons to call healthcare provider
immediately
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing; tightness in
the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits; swelling of face,
lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea.
- Shortness of breath or decreased ability to exercise.
- Belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow eyes/skin, not hungry.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling worse.
How should I store this medicine?
- Store in a tight, light-resistant container at room temperature.
General statements
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine, including
over-the-counter or natural products (herbs, vitamins).
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