Monograph Details

Infections & Infestations > Viral infections
RETROVIR TABLETS
Manufacturer
GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals
Legal Classification
Rx
Pharmacological Class
Nucleoside analogue (reverse transcriptase inhibitor).
Generic Name
Zidovudine 300mg.
Also
RETROVIR CAPSULES
RETROVIR IV
RETROVIR SYRUP
Indications
HIV infection. Prevention of maternal-fetal HIV transmission.
Children
<6 weeks and/or for vertical transmission: see literature. 6 weeks–12 years: 160mg/m2 (max 200mg) every 8 hours.
Adults
600mg daily in divided doses. End-stage renal disease on dialysis: 100mg every 6–8 hours. Vertical transmission: see literature.
Contraindications
Concomitant other forms of zidovudine.
Precautions
Suspend if lactic acidosis or hepatotoxicity (eg, hepatomegaly, steatosis) occurs. Monitor for hematologic toxicity; reduce dose or suspend if significant anemia and/or granulocytopenia occurs; transfuse if necessary. Renal or hepatic dysfunction: consider reducing dose. Bone marrow suppression. Risk of liver disease. Women, obesity, prolonged nucleoside exposure, or advanced HIV disease: increased risk of toxicity. Elderly. Pregnancy (Cat.C). Nursing mothers: not recommended.
Interactions
Avoid stavudine, doxorubicin, ribavirin, other nucleoside analogues. Caution with other nephrotoxic, cytotoxic, myelosuppressive drugs (eg, dapsone, flucytosine, vincristine, vinblastine, adriamycin, ganciclovir, interferon-alpha), methadone, acyclovir. Fluconazole, atovaquone, probenecid, valproic acid increase zidovudine levels. Monitor phenytoin. May be antagonized by rifampin, phenytoin, other CYP450 inducers. Monitor for treatment-associated toxicities with interferon-alpha with or without ribavirin.
Adverse Reactions
Anemia, neutropenia, headache, malaise, GI disturbances, insomnia, pain, myopathy, neuropathy, myositis, thrombocytopenia, lactic acidosis, steatosis, hepatomegaly, fat redistribution, pancreatitis, others.
Extra Text
Note: Register pregnant patients exposed to zidovudine by calling (800) 258-4263.
How Supplied
Caps—100
Tabs—60
Syrup—240mL
IV (20mL/vial)—10
Additional Resources
Related Prescribing Note