What Is The Drug Azt

Here's a taste of what TheBody.com has to offer on this topic:

Get the Facts

Zidovudine (Retrovir, AZT)

What Is Zidovudine? Zidovudine (Retrovir) is a drug used for antiretroviral therapy (ART). It was first manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline. It is manufactured by ViiV Healthcare. The patent on zidovudine expired in 2005 and several generic versions have been approved. Several are available under PEPFAR (see Fact Sheet 475 ). Zidovudine is also known as azidodeoxythymidine, AZT or ZDV. Zidovudine was the first drug approved for the treatment of...

Ask the Experts

Primary drug resistant to azt? Oh no!

Hi Doctor Young, I want to thank you for caring so much and always taking the time out to answer questions that are answered on this forum. I am in the camp of recently infected and am drug resistant to azt. This worries me because i know that...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Dear Mia-thanks for your comments and question.I am happy to hear that you did have resistance testing done while recently infected. Your situation points out the possible value of testing during this period.The answer to the effect of thymidine... Read more »

What are the side effects of AZT drug.

What is the side effects of the drug AZT...

Response from Keith Henry, M.D.

University of Minnesota, School of Medicine

Although many persons taking HIV don't have much in the way of side effects many do. Many persons initially have some GI side effects (nausea, stomach ache), headache, or some malaise (just feeling crummy) which often will get better over a... Read more »

AZT TONGUE PIGMENTATION- AZT 2 ever?

Hi Doctor Young, Does AZT cause a nasty looking pigmenation (black to purple spots to develop on the inside of the tongue and mouth?) Does the AZT that is offered as medicine today in combination with other drugs still produce this result? AZT...

Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.

Rocky Mountain CARES

Zidovudine (ADV, AZT) can cause hyperpigmentation of nails and skin- I suppose that it could cause hyperpigmentation of the tongue, but I am not aware of this personally. Yes, when used in combination, the possibility of side effects remain,... Read more »

AZT (Retrovir) & Pregnancy How to know if your resistient to AZT

In 1988 I had a child. 3 months later I was informed her father tested positive. So did I. The baby did not. 1990 - 1991 I took AZT (Retrovir) 1 pill 5 x a day. Then stopped taking it. In 1993 I became pregnant again. Started taking AZT again...

Response from John L. Sullivan, M.D.

University of Massachusetts, Medical School

The risk of transmitting HIV to your infant is directly linked to your viral load; if your viral load is less than 50 copies/ml your risk is less than 1%; the therapy that reduces your viral load to less than 50 can include many different drugs and... Read more »

Go to Ask the Experts »

Connect With Others