Manufacturer: Cipla, India
Pharmaceutical name: Retrovir
Pack: 1 tab (300 mg)
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Zidovudine is a medication available in both oral and injectable forms that treats infections caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It belongs to a class of medications known as reverse transcriptase inhibitors, which also consists of zalcitabine, stavudine, didanosine, and lamivudine.
When the body is infected with HIV, the virus replicates inside the cells. The newly created viruses are then released from these cells and disseminated throughout the body, infecting additional cells. This process allows the infection to constantly propagate to new, uninfected cells that the body naturally produces, thereby perpetuating HIV infection. To create new viruses, HIV must synthesize fresh DNA for each one, utilizing an enzyme known as reverse transcriptase.
Zidovudine works by inhibiting reverse transcriptase, thereby preventing the formation of DNA and new viruses. Specifically, the body converts zidovudine into its active form (zidovudine triphosphate), which closely resembles thymidine triphosphate, a chemical necessary for HIV to create new DNA. Reverse transcriptase mistakenly uses zidovudine triphosphate in place of thymidine triphosphate when synthesizing DNA. As a result, zidovudine triphosphate disrupts the reverse transcriptase function. It’s important to note that zidovudine does not eliminate existing HIV viruses and is not considered a cure for HIV.
The likelihood of liver enlargement and lactic acidosis rises during zidovudine treatment, particularly in overweight individuals and those undergoing prolonged therapy. If such conditions arise, zidovudine treatment should be halted.
If you notice symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain, nausea, or a general feeling of unwellness, contact your doctor promptly. This medication does not stop the transmission of HIV through sexual contact or blood. Caution is advised for patients with bone marrow disorders, low T-helper cell counts, diminished bone marrow reserves before treatment, neutropenia, anemia, or vitamin B12 deficiency. HIV medications may lead to fat redistribution, manifesting as a "buffalo hump" on the back, increased abdominal fat, and noticeable weight loss in the arms, legs, and face.
The most serious side effects include a decrease in blood cells, muscle pain (myopathy), liver enlargement (hepatomegaly), and metabolic issues (lactic acidosis). Other side effects may consist of chills, rashes, confusion, dizziness, headaches, diarrhea, nausea, and weight loss.
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