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Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Retrovir, others |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a687007 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth, intravenous, rectal suppository |
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Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | Complete absorption, following first-pass metabolism systemic availability 75% (range 52 to 75%) |
Protein binding | 30 to 38% |
Metabolism | Liver |
Elimination half-life | 0.5 to 3 hours |
Excretion | Kidney and Bile duct |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.152.492 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C10H13N5O4 |
Molar mass | 267.245 g·mol−1 |
3D model (JSmol) | |
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Zidovudine (ZDV), also known as azidothymidine (AZT), was the first antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS. It is generally recommended for use in combination with other antiretrovirals.[6] It may be used to prevent mother-to-child spread during birth or after a needlestick injury or other potential exposure.[6] It is sold both by itself and together as lamivudine/zidovudine and abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine.[6] It can be used by mouth or by slow injection into a vein.[6]
Common side effects include headaches, fever, and nausea.[6] Serious side effects include liver problems, muscle damage, and high blood lactate levels.[6] It is commonly used in pregnancy and appears to be safe for the fetus.[6] ZDV is of the nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) class.[6] It works by inhibiting the enzyme reverse transcriptase that HIV uses to make DNA and therefore decreases replication of the virus.[6]
Zidovudine was first described in 1964.[7] It was resynthesized from a public-domain formula by Burroughs Wellcome.[8] It was approved in the United States in 1987 and was the first treatment for HIV.[6][9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[10][11] It is available as a generic medication.[6]