Azt

The recommended adult dose of zidovudine for people weighing 30 kilograms or more is 600 mg taken by mouth daily. It may be taken as either 300 mg every 12 hours or 200 mg every eight hours in capsule, tablet, or syrup form.

For children and individuals weighing between 4 kilograms and 30 kilograms, the dosage is based on body weight or size. The recommended dose for children weighing between 4 kilograms and 9 kilograms is calculated as 24 mg per kilogram of body weight daily; the dose for children between 9 kg and 30 kg is 18 mg per kilogram of body weight daily. The recommended dose of zidovudine when calculated by body size is 480 mg per square metre (m²) of body surface area daily (to a maximum of 600 mg per day) as calculated by the doctor. Either calculation may be used, however the dose may not be the same. The total daily dose is usually divided up into two doses every 12 hours or three doses every eight hours.

If it is not possible to take zidovudine by mouth, the injectable form may be used. The recommended intravenous (given into a vein) dose for adults is 1 to 2 mg per kilogram of body weight every 4 hours around the clock. For children, the intravenous dose is 120 mg per square metre (m²) of body surface area (to a maximum of 160 mg per dose), given every 6 hours.

For prevention of transmission of HIV infection to babies by pregnant women, 100 mg is taken by mouth 5 times daily starting 14 weeks into the pregnancy. During labour and delivery, zidovudine is given intravenously by the hospital until the baby is born. The child is then given a dose of zidovudine based on body weight every 6 hours until 6 weeks of age.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

Use an oral syringe to measure each dose of the liquid, as it gives a more accurate measurement than household teaspoons.

It is important to take Novo Azt exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The effectiveness of the medication depends on having the right amount of zidovudine in the bloodstream. If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible and continue with your regular schedule. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Novo Azt at room temperature, protect it from light and moisture, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

Novo-AZT is no longer being manufactured for sale in Canada. For brands that may still be available, search under zidovudine. This article is being kept available for reference purposes only. If you are using Novo Azt, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for information about your treatment options.

Do not take zidovudine if you:

• are allergic to zidovudine or any ingredients of the medication
• have a very low number of white or red blood cells in the bloodstream

There may be an interaction between zidovudine and any of the following:

• acyclovir
• atovaquine
• Azathioprine
• BCG
• clarithromycin
• Clozapine
• Cyclophosphamide
• Deferiprone
• dipyrone
• Doxorubicin
• fluconazole
• flucytosine
• Ganciclovir
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., atazanavir, indinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir)
• interferon alfa
• interferon beta
• lamivudine
• Methadone
• Mercaptopurine
• Methotrexate
• Orlistat
• Phenytoin
• raltegravir
• ribavirin
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rifapentine
• stavudine
• Teriflunomide
• trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
• Valacyclovir
• Valproic acid

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Novo Azt. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Novo Azt.

Fat redistribution: Over time, Novo Azt may change how fat is distributed in your body and may change your body shape. You may notice increased fat in the upper back and neck, breast, around the back, chest, and stomach area; or loss of fat from the legs, arms, and face. The long-term effects of this are not known.

Immune reconstitution syndrome: Novo Azt may cause immune reconstitution syndrome, where signs and symptoms of inflammation from previous infections appear. These symptoms occur soon after starting anti-HIV medication and can vary. They are thought to occur as a result of the immune system improving and being able to fight infections that have been present without symptoms (such as pneumonia, herpes, or Tuberculosis). Report any new symptoms to your doctor as soon as possible.

Kidney function: If you have reduced kidney function, discuss with your doctor how Novo Azt may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Novo Azt, and whether any special monitoring is needed. People with severely reduced kidney function should not take Novo Azt.

Lactic acidosis and enlarged fatty liver: Zidovudine can cause a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis (build-up of lactic acid in the blood) together with an enlarged liver. This tends to occur more often in women, especially if they are overweight. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately:

• abdominal pain, swelling, or bloating
• diarrhea
• fatigue
• feeling unwell
• nausea
• shortness of breath
• vomiting
• weakness
• weight loss

Your doctor will monitor your liver function periodically by ordering laboratory tests.

Liver function: Zidovudine is broken down by the liver so it can be removed from the body through the kidneys. Liver disease or reduced liver function may cause a build-up of zidovudine in the body and cause side effects. If you have liver disease or decreased liver function, discuss with your doctor how Novo Azt may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Novo Azt, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you experience symptoms of liver problems (e.g., abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, feeling unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark urine), contact your doctor immediately.

Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas): Zidovudine may cause or worsen pancreatitis. If you have a history of or are at risk for developing pancreatitis, discuss with your doctor how Novo Azt may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Novo Azt, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you develop signs of pancreatitis (e.g., upper left abdominal pain, back pain, nausea, fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, swollen abdomen), contact your doctor.

Red blood cells: Pure red cell aplasia is a rare bone marrow disorder characterized by a reduction in red blood cells produced by the bone marrow. Symptoms include pallor, weakness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and decreased blood pressure. If you experience any of these symptoms contact your doctor immediately.

Zidovudine may also cause low levels of red blood cells without causing red cell aplasia. This usually happens after Novo Azt has been taken for more than 4 to 6 weeks. Your doctor should order regular blood tests to monitor for changes in the numbers of blood cells during treatment. If you experience symptoms of reduced red blood cell count (anemia) such as shortness of breath, feeling unusually tired or pale skin, contact your doctor as soon as possible.

Reduced white blood cells: Zidovudine can cause low levels of white blood cells. This usually happens after Novo Azt has been taken for more than 4 to 6 weeks. Your doctor should order regular blood tests to monitor for changes in the numbers of blood cells during treatment. If you experience symptoms of an infection (e.g., fever, sore throat) contact your doctor immediately.

If you have low levels white blood cells, your doctor may consider a different combination of medications to treat your condition.

Stopping the medication: If you stop taking Novo Azt, your HIV infection could get worse. Take the medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor and do not stop taking the medication without checking with your doctor first.

Pregnancy: The use of zidovudine after the first 14 weeks of pregnancy does not appear to increase the risk of birth defects. Zidovudine is used by pregnant women with HIV infection to prevent transmission of the virus to the unborn child.

Breast-feeding: Zidovudine passes into breast milk. Women who have HIV infection are cautioned against breast-feeding because of the risk of passing HIV to a baby who does not have the infection.

<p>Zidovudine belongs to the class of antiretroviral medications called <i>nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors</i> (NRTIs). It is used either alone or in combination with other medications to <b>treat the infection caused by the <i>human immunodeficiency virus</i> (HIV)</b>. Zidovudine is also used to help prevent pregnant women who have HIV infection from passing the virus to their child during birth.</p><p>HIV is the virus responsible for <i>acquired immune deficiency syndrome</i> (AIDS). HIV infection destroys CD4 (T) cells, which are important to the immune system. The immune system helps fight infections.</p><p>Reverse transcriptase is a part of HIV required to infect cells and make more virus. Zidovudine prevents reverse transcriptase from working properly.</p><p><b>Zidovudine does not cure AIDS and does not prevent it from being spread to others.</b> It does help to slow down the progression of the disease.</p><p><b>Novo Azt may be available under multiple brand names and/or in several different forms.</b> Any specific brand name of Novo Azt may not be available in all of the forms or approved for all of the conditions discussed here. As well, some forms of Novo Azt may not be used for all of the conditions discussed here.</p><p><b>Your doctor may have suggested Novo Azt for conditions other than those listed in these drug information articles.</b> If you have not discussed this with your doctor or are not sure why you are taking Novo Azt, speak to your doctor. <b>Do not stop taking Novo Azt without consulting your doctor.</b></p><p><b>Do not give Novo Azt to anyone else, even if they have the same symptoms as you do.</b> It can be harmful for people to take Novo Azt if their doctor has not prescribed it.</p>