ZIDOVUDINE

a nucleoside (thymidine) analog drug that suppresses the replication of HIV by terminating DNA synthesis. AZT is FDA-approved for the treatment of HIV infection; current practice favors the use of AZT in combination with other antiretroviral drugs. AZT crosses the blood-brain barrier and may be effective against AIDS dementia complex. Adverse side effects include nausea, myopathy and bone marrow suppression.

A nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor<!-- (see) --> first approved by FDA in 1987 and used in combination with other antiretroviral agents<!-- (see) --> for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and children 3 months to 12 years of age. Also FDA approved (08/08/94) for use in HIV-infected pregnant women beginning between 14 and 34 weeks gestation and during labor, and for use in newborn babies of HIV-infected mothers. Also called AZT, ZDV, and Retrovir and available with Lamivudine as Combivir<!-- (see) -->.

A drug shown to be effective in reducing the number of babies born with perinatal HIV.

A drug that inhibits the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS. Also called AZT. It belongs to the family of drugs called systemic antivirals.

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