Zidovudine

1 medicine

Zidovudine is an antiretroviral used with other HIV medicines to treat HIV infection. It commonly suppresses bone-marrow function, causing anemia or low white blood cell counts, so regular blood-count monitoring is required.

Combivir

Lamivudine, Zidovudine

300/150mg

Combivir is a hiv medication containing Lamivudine + Zidovudine, available as 300/150mg tablets.

from $1.60 / tablet View

Key facts

  • Zidovudine is a nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor used to treat HIV infection, always combined with other antiretroviral drugs (as in the combination tablet Combivir), and to help prevent mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and delivery.
  • It is taken as tablets, capsules, or an intravenous infusion, usually twice daily.
  • Zidovudine commonly suppresses bone marrow, causing anemia or low white blood cell counts. Regular blood-count monitoring is required, especially in the first months of treatment.
  • Seek urgent care for unusual tiredness, breathlessness, fever, or frequent infections.

What zidovudine treats

Zidovudine treats HIV-1 infection as part of combination antiretroviral therapy, and it is used to reduce the chance of a pregnant person passing HIV to their baby. It is sometimes included in a short course after possible HIV exposure to reduce infection risk. It is not a cure and is not effective as long-term treatment on its own.

How zidovudine works

Once inside cells, zidovudine is converted to its active form and gets built into the new DNA chain that HIV's reverse transcriptase enzyme is copying from the virus's genetic material. Because this building block cannot connect to the next one, the chain stops growing, and the virus cannot finish copying itself. This lowers the amount of virus in the blood and gives the immune system a chance to recover.

Before you take it

  • Tell your prescriber about any existing anemia or low white blood cell count, or liver problems, before starting zidovudine.
  • Avoid combining zidovudine with other bone-marrow-suppressing drugs, such as ganciclovir or ribavirin, where possible.
  • Zidovudine is not usually combined with stavudine, since the two drugs work against each other.
  • Zidovudine is always used with other antiretroviral drugs; it is not given alone for long-term HIV treatment.

Side effects

Common effects include headache, nausea, fatigue, and muscle aches, which often ease over the first weeks.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

  • Unusual tiredness, pale skin, or breathlessness, which can signal anemia.
  • Fever or frequent infections, which can signal a low white blood cell count.
  • Yellowing of the skin or eyes, or dark urine.
  • Muscle weakness or pain that does not improve.

Safety essentials

  • Regular full blood counts are required, especially in the first three months of treatment, to catch anemia or a low white blood cell count early; your dose may be reduced or treatment paused if levels drop.
  • Report unusual fatigue, breathlessness, fever, or infections to your prescriber promptly.
  • Avoid other bone-marrow-suppressing medicines unless your prescriber has approved them.
  • Take zidovudine consistently as part of your combination regimen; missing doses allows the virus to rebound.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.