zidovudine injection

Generic Name: zidovudine (injection) (zye DOE vyoo deen)

Brand Names: Retrovir

What is zidovudine injection?

Zidovudine is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) cells from multiplying in your body.

Zidovudine injection is used to treat HIV, which causes the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Zidovudine is also given during pregnancy to prevent an HIV-infected woman from passing the virus to her baby. Zidovudine is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Zidovudine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about zidovudine injection?

Zidovudine may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis symptoms can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual muscle pain and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heart rate, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Zidovudine can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms while using zidovudine: nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). Do not use zidovudine together with other combination drugs that contain zidovudine, such as Combivir or Trizivir.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Using zidovudine will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using zidovudine injection?

Do not use this medication if you are allergic to zidovudine, or if you are using any other drugs that contain zidovudine, such as Combivir or Trizivir.

Before using zidovudine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

• kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis);


• liver disease; or


• 
  

  bone marrow suppression.

  
  

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use zidovudine or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

Zidovudine may cause lactic acidosis (the build up of lactic acid in the body). Lactic acidosis symptoms can start slowly and gradually get worse. Symptoms include unusual muscle pain and weakness, trouble breathing, fast or uneven heart rate, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, and numbness or cold feeling in your arms or legs. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms, even if they are only mild. Early signs of lactic acidosis generally get worse over time and this condition can be fatal. Zidovudine can also cause severe or life-threatening effects on your liver. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these symptoms while using zidovudine: nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, stomach pain, low fever, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes). FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment. HIV can be passed to the baby if the mother is not properly treated during pregnancy. Use all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection while you are pregnant.

Your name may need to be listed on an antiviral pregnancy registry when you start using zidovudine. The purpose of this registry is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and delivery to evaluate whether zidovudine had any effect on the baby.

You should not breast-feed while you are using zidovudine. Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed at all. Even if your baby is born without HIV, you may still pass the virus to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I use zidovudine injection?

Use this medication exactly as your doctor has prescribed it for you. Do not use more of the medication than recommended. Do not use zidovudine for longer than your doctor has prescribed. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Zidovudine is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein. Your doctor, nurse, or other healthcare provider will give you this injection. You may be given instructions on how to inject your medicine at home. Do not use this medicine at home if you do not fully understand how to give the injection and properly dispose of needles and other items used in giving the medicine.

Zidovudine must be given slowly through an IV infusion, and can take up to an hour to complete.

Use each needle and syringe only one time. Throw away used needles and syringes in a puncture-proof container. If your medicine does not come with such a container, ask your pharmacist where you can get one. Keep this container out of the reach of children and pets. Your pharmacist can tell you how to properly dispose of the container.

It is important to use zidovudine regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescription refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

HIV/AIDS is usually treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. Be sure to read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each of your medications. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

To be sure this medication is helping your condition, your blood will need to be tested on a regular basis. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Do not miss any scheduled visits to your doctor.

Zidovudine injection must be mixed with a liquid (diluent) before injecting it.

After mixing the medication, you may store it at room temperature if it is used within 24 hours. You may also store the mixed medication in a refrigerator, but you must use it within 48 hours.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Use the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and use the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not use extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.

Symptoms of a zidovudine overdose may include nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, headache, or weakness.

What should I avoid while using zidovudine injection?

Avoid drinking alcohol while using zidovudine. Alcohol may increase the risk of damage to the liver.

Using zidovudine will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people through unprotected sex or sharing of needles. Talk with your doctor about safe methods of preventing HIV transmission during sex, such as using a condom and spermicide. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Zidovudine injection side effects

Stop using this medication and get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these other serious side effects:

• 
  

  liver damage - nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

  
  


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  lactic acidosis - muscle pain or weakness, numb or cold feeling in your arms and legs, trouble breathing, nausea with vomiting, and fast or uneven heart rate;

  
  


• 
  

  easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness, pale skin;

  
  


• 
  

  white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;

  
  


• 
  

  fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms; or

  
  


• 
  

  any other signs of new infection.

  
  

Less serious side effects may be more likely to occur, such as:

• 
  

  mild nausea, vomiting, constipation;

  
  


• 
  

  sleep problems (insomnia);

  
  


• 
  

  muscle or joint pain;

  
  


• 
  

  headache, tired feeling;

  
  


• 
  

  skin rash;

  
  


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  pain or irritation where the medicine was injected; or

  
  


• 
  

  changes in the shape or location of body fat (especially in your arms, legs, face, neck, breasts, and trunk).

  
  

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Zidovudine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for HIV Infection:

Oral: 300 mg orally every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every 8 hours

IV: 1 mg/kg by IV infusion over 1 hour, every 4 hours around the clock, for a total daily dose of 5 to 6 mg/kg; maximum of 200 mg/dose

Duration: Therapy should be continued for as long as the patient tolerates, or until the patient is switched to another antiretroviral agent.

Usual Adult Dose for Nonoccupational Exposure:

300 mg orally every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every 8 hours, in combination with efavirenz plus (lamivudine or emtricitabine) or lopinavir-ritonavir plus (lamivudine or emtricitabine)

Prophylaxis should be initiated as soon as possible, preferably within 72 hours of exposure.

Duration: 28 days

Usual Adult Dose for Occupational Exposure:

300 mg orally every 12 hours or 200 mg orally every 8 hours
Prophylaxis should begin promptly, preferably within 1 to 2 hours postexposure.

Duration: Generally 28 days; however, the exact duration of therapy may differ based on the institution's protocol

Usual Adult Dose for Reduction of Perinatal Transmission of HIV:

Maternal dosing: 100 mg orally 5 times a day until start of labor; however, most authorities would also consider the standard oral dosages of 300 mg every 12 hours or 200 mg every 8 hours

During labor and delivery: 2 mg/kg by IV infusion over 1 hour followed by a continuous IV infusion of 1 mg/kg/hr until clamping of the umbilical cord

Therapy should begin at 14 to 34 weeks gestation. Neonates should also be treated for 6 weeks. Despite the use of this regimen, transmission to infants may still occur in some cases.

Usual Pediatric Dose for HIV Infection:

Oral:
4 weeks to less than 18 years:
Based on body weight:
4 to less than 9 kg: 12 mg/kg orally twice a day or 8 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
9 to less than 30 kg: 9 mg/kg orally twice a day or 6 mg/kg orally 3 times a day
30 kg or more: 300 mg orally twice a day or 200 mg orally 3 times a day

Based on body surface area: 240 mg/m2 orally twice a day or 160 mg/m2 orally 3 times a day

The dosage calculated by body weight may not be the same as the dosage calculated by body surface area in some cases.

IV infusion:
6 weeks to 12 years:
Intermittent: 120 mg/m2 IV every 6 hours
Continuous: 20 mg/m2 IV per hour

13 years or older: 1 mg/kg by IV infusion over 1 hour, every 4 hours around the clock, for a total daily dose of 5 to 6 mg/kg; maximum of 200 mg/dose

Usual Pediatric Dose for Reduction of Perinatal Transmission of HIV:

Premature infants:
Oral: 2 mg/kg orally every 12 hours
IV: 1.5 mg/kg IV every 12 hours

Increase dosage frequency to every 8 hours at 4 weeks of age in neonates less than 30 weeks gestation at birth and at 2 weeks of age in neonates 30 to less than 35 weeks gestation at birth.

Full-term infants, 0 to 6 weeks:
Oral: 2 mg/kg orally every 6 hours
IV: 1.5 mg/kg IV every 6 hours

Oral treatment with zidovudine syrup should start at 8 to 12 hours after birth and should continue through 6 weeks of age. IV zidovudine may be administered to neonates unable to receive oral dosing and should be infused over 30 minutes.

What other drugs will affect zidovudine injection?

Before using zidovudine, tell your doctor if you are also using:

• 
  

  atovaquone (Mepron);

  
  


• 
  

  doxorubicin (Adriamycin);

  
  


• 
  

  fluconazole (Diflucan);

  
  


• 
  

  ganciclovir (Cytovene);

  
  


• 
  

  interferon-alfa (Roferon, Intron, Rebetron);

  
  


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  methadone (Dolophine, Methadose);

  
  


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  nelfinavir (Viracept);

  
  


• 
  

  phenytoin (Dilantin);

  
  


• 
  

  probenecid (Benemid);

  
  


• 
  

  ribavirin (Rebetol, Ribasphere, Copegus Virazole);

  
  


• 
  

  ritonavir (Norvir); or

  
  


• 
  

  stavudine (Zerit).

  
  

There may be other drugs that can affect zidovudine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

More zidovudine resources

• Zidovudine Side Effects (in more detail)
• Zidovudine Dosage
• Zidovudine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Zidovudine Drug Interactions
• Zidovudine Support Group
• 0 Reviews for Zidovudine - Add your own review/rating

Compare zidovudine with other medications

• HIV Infection
• Nonoccupational Exposure
• Occupational Exposure
• Reduction of Perinatal Transmission of HIV

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist has information about zidovudine written for health professionals that you may read.

See also: zidovudine side effects (in more detail)