Clinical medicine profile
Zidovudine (AZT)
Antiviral / antiretroviral
- Route
- ORAL / IV / TOPICAL
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
This profile needs source confirmation
A traceable source link is not attached to this profile. Confirm prescribing decisions against the current SmPC and Kenya STG/EML.
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity (abacavir HLA-B*5701 positive — absolute for abacavir).
- Agent-specific organ failure thresholds.
- Never dual-count duplicate NRTIs inappropriately.
Precautions
- Adherence critical for ART to prevent resistance.
- Screen HLA-B*5701 before abacavir.
- Monitor renal bone parameters with TDF.
- IRIS after ART initiation.
- Aciclovir: hydrate to reduce crystalluria.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Asymptomatic disease - initially 500mg to be increased as the disease progresses to 1.5g daily. Symptomatic disease 200mg every 4hrs. If tolerance is poor - 100mg every six hours. Children over 3months -180mg/m2 every 6hrs. I.V inf. - 2.5mg/kg every 4 hrs (for less than 2 weeks.
See label paediatric section if present; otherwise use paediatric formulary — do not extrapolate adult doses.
Dose-adjust renally cleared NRTIs; TDF nephrotoxicity monitoring.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Several agents hepatotoxic; monitor with HBV/HCV co-infection.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- HIV in adults and children with progressive or advance immunodeficiency.
- (T-helper cell counts of less than 500/mm3).
- Used in combination with other ARVs.
- Clinical selection for Zidovudine (AZT) should follow culture results where relevant, Kenya STG/EML recommendations, and the current product SmPC.
- Class context: Antiviral / antiretroviral.
- Confirm site-specific dose, duration and monitoring before prescribing.
Adverse effects
- Agent-specific: GI, rash, CNS (efavirenz), hyperbilirubinaemia (atazanavir), renal/bone (TDF), anaemia (ZDV), hypersensitivity (ABC).
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Use national HIV guidelines for first-line combinations.
- Do not cease ART without plan.
- For HSV/VZV: early therapy improves outcomes
- dose by IBW/renal function for IV aciclovir.
Mechanism & disposition
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] that are converted by cellular cells’ enzymes to active phosporylated metabo-lites that inhibit viral reverse transcriptase and viral DNA synthesis.
Read complete mechanism
Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors [NRTIs] that are converted by cellular cells’ enzymes to active phosporylated metabo-lites that inhibit viral reverse transcriptase and viral DNA synthesis.
Varies (hours–days)
Regimen-dependent; ART lifelong
ORAL / IV / TOPICAL
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
ART is essential in pregnancy for maternal health and PMTCT — use preferred regimens per Kenya NASCOP guidance.
Follow national HIV infant feeding + maternal ART guidance.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zidovudine Tablets USP 300 mg | Hetero Labs Ltd | Tablet 300mg | Unavailable |
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.