Indicated for: HIV-1 infection
Substance: zidovudine (nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitor)
ATC: J05AF01 (Antiinfectives for systemic use | Direct acting antivirals | Nucleoside and nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors)
Zidovudine is an antiretroviral medication used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection. It belongs to the class of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) and was one of the first drugs approved for HIV treatment. Zidovudine is used in combination with other antiretroviral drugs to reduce viral load, slow disease progression, and prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus during pregnancy and childbirth.
The mechanism of action of zidovudine involves inhibiting reverse transcriptase, an enzyme essential for HIV replication. Zidovudine is converted into its active form (zidovudine triphosphate) inside infected cells, where it integrates into the forming viral DNA chain, thereby blocking viral replication.
Zidovudine is administered orally in the form of tablets or syrup, and in severe cases, it can be given intravenously. It is used in both adults and children, with the dosage adjusted based on body weight and the patient’s overall condition. It is also used prophylactically to reduce the risk of HIV transmission in cases of accidental exposure (post-exposure prophylaxis).
While effective, zidovudine can cause side effects. The most common include nausea, vomiting, headache, fatigue, and anemia. In rare cases, more serious reactions such as myelosuppression (reduction in blood cell counts), liver damage, or lactic acidosis may occur. Regular monitoring of patients is essential to detect and manage potential complications.