Zidovudine (AZT) for HIV/AIDS

Zidovudine, also known as AZT, is an antiretroviral medication used to manage HIV/AIDS.
Category
Drug
Where to get
Prescription medication available at pharmacies.
Applicable for
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Zidovudine FAQ


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Is zidovudine a cure for HIV?

Zidovudine is an antiretroviral medicine. It is prescribed for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It slows the progress of HIV infection, but it is not a cure. HIV destroys cells in the body, called CD4 T cells. These cells are a type of white blood cell and are important because they are involved in protecting your body from infection.

What is zidovudine used for?

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. It may be used to prevent mother-to-child spread during birth or after a needlestick injury or other potential exposure.

Why is zidovudine used in pregnant women?

This lowers your chance of getting HIV complications (such as new infections, cancer) and improves your quality of life. Zidovudine belongs to a class of drugs known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors-NRTIs.Zidovudine is used in pregnant women to prevent passing the HIV virus to the unborn baby.

When was zidovudine first used?

Zidovudine was first described in 1964. It was resynthesized from a public-domain formula by Burroughs Wellcome. It was approved in the United States in 1987 and was the first treatment for HIV. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.

Zidovudine References

If you want to know more about Zidovudine, consider exploring links below:

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