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Zidovudine

Zidovudine
Zidovudine.svg
Zidovudine-3D-balls.png
Clinical data
Trade names Retrovir, others
AHFS/Drugs.com Monograph
Pregnancy
category
  • AU: B3
  • US: C (Risk not ruled out) (AZT)
Routes of
administration
By mouth, IV, rectal suppository
ATC code
Legal status
Legal status
  • ℞ (Prescription only)
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability Complete absorption, following first-pass metabolism systemic availability 75% (range 52 to 75%)
Protein binding 30 to 38%
Metabolism liver
Biological half-life 0.5 to 3 hours
Excretion kidney and biliary
Identifiers
CAS Number
PubChem CID
IUPHAR/BPS
DrugBank
ChemSpider
UNII
KEGG
ChEBI
ChEMBL
NIAID ChemDB
PDB ligand
ECHA InfoCard 100.152.492
Chemical and physical data
Formula C10H13N5O4
Molar mass 267.242 g/mol
3D model (Jmol)
 NYesY (what is this?)  

Zidovudine (ZDV), also known as azidothymidine (AZT), is an antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally recommended for use with other antiretroviral. It may be used to prevent mother to child spread during birth or after a needlestick injury or other potential exposure. It is sold both by itself and together as lamivudine/zidovudine and abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine. It can be used by mouth or by slow injection into a vein.

Common side effects include headaches, fever, and nausea. Serious side effects include liver problems, muscle damage, and high blood lactate levels. It is commonly used in pregnancy and appears to be safe for the baby. ZDV is of the nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class. It works by inhibiting the enzyme reverse transcriptase that HIV uses to make DNA and therefore decreases replication of the virus.

Zidovudine was first described in 1964. It was approved in the United States in 1986 and was the first treatment for HIV. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines, the most effective and safe medicines needed in a health system. It is available as a generic medication. The wholesale cost in the developing world is 5.10 to 25.60 USD per month. As of 2015, the cost for a typical month of medication in the United States was more than 200 USD.


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