Zidovudine for HIV

About zidovudine

Zidovudine is an antiretroviral medicine. It is prescribed for عدوى فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية (HIV). 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. If left untreated, the HIV infection weakens your immune system so that your body cannot defend itself against bacteria, viruses and other germs. Zidovudine slows down the progress of HIV infection by reducing the amount of virus in your body. It does this by stopping the virus from copying (replicating) itself.

Zidovudine will be prescribed for you by a doctor who is a specialist. It belongs to a group of antiretroviral medicines known as nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs). It is given alongside a number of other antiretroviral medicines, as part of a combination therapy. Taking three or more antiretroviral medicines at the same time is more effective than taking one alone. Taking a combination of different medicines also reduces the risk that the virus will become resistant to any individual medicine. Some brands of zidovudine contain one or more other antiretroviral medicines (see the list in the table above) - these combination brands help to reduce the total number of tablets you need to take each day. Not all of the information in this leaflet applies to the combination brands, so please refer to the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack for full details. It is vital to take your antiretroviral medicines exactly as prescribed to maintain success and to help to prevent the virus from becoming resistant to the medicines. These medicines are usually taken for life.

Zidovudine is also prescribed to help prevent passing HIV on to an unborn baby. When it is prescribed for this reason, it can be used alone, or alongside other medicines. After the birth, it may be given to your newborn to help prevent your baby from getting infected with HIV.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking zidovudine it is important that your doctor knows:

• إذا كنتِ حاملاً، تحاولين الإنجاب أو تقومين بالرضاعة الطبيعية.

• إذا كان لديك أي مشاكل في طريقة عمل الكبد لديك، أو إذا كان لديك مشاكل في طريقة عمل الكلى لديك.

• إذا كنت تشرب الكثير من الكحول.

• If you have been told you have low levels of vitamin B12 in your body, such as if you have pernicious anaemia.

• If you know you have a very low white blood cell count (called neutropenia), or low haemoglobin levels.

• إذا كنت تعاني من اضطراب دم وراثي نادر يسمى البورفيريا.

• إذا كنت تتناول أي أدوية أخرى. يشمل ذلك أي أدوية يمكن شراؤها بدون وصفة طبية، بالإضافة إلى الأدوية العشبية والمكملات الغذائية.

• إذا كنت قد تعرضت في أي وقت مضى لرد فعل تحسسي تجاه دواء.
  

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside your pack. It will give you more information about zidovudine, and it will also provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from taking it.

• Take zidovudine exactly as your doctor tells you to. You will be asked to take two doses each day - take the doses 12 hours apart. Zidovudine is available both as capsules and as a liquid medicine. Adults will usually be prescribed capsules to take, whereas young children are likely to be supplied with the liquid medicine (Retrovir® Oral Solution). Your doctor will advise you about how many capsules or how much of the liquid medicine you (or your child) should take for each dose. The directions will also be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• Try to take zidovudine at the same times each day, as this will help you to remember to take it regularly. You can take zidovudine either with or without food. Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is within two hours of your next dose when you remember, leave out the missed dose but remember to take the next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

Instructions for using the dosing syringe with Retrovir® Oral Solution

1. قم بإزالة غطاء الزجاجة، ثم ادفع المحول البلاستيكي إلى أعلى الزجاجة المفتوحة.

2. Make sure the plunger of the syringe is pushed in fully, then insert the tip of the syringe into the adapter.

3. اقلب الزجاجة (مع المحقنة المتصلة بها) رأسًا على عقب.

4. Gently pull out the plunger of the syringe so that the solution fills the syringe to the mark which corresponds to your dose.

5. أعد الزجاجة إلى وضعها الصحيح مرة أخرى، وقم بإزالة المحقنة من الزجاجة.

6. Put the tip of the syringe into your child's mouth (or if appropriate, your mouth) and gently push the plunger so that the liquid is released.

7. كرر الخطوات من 2 إلى 6 إذا طُلب منك استخدام أكثر من حقنة واحدة.

8. Remove the adaptor from the bottle and replace the bottle cap. Wash the syringe and adaptor with water after each use.

• حافظ على مواعيدك المنتظمة مع طبيبك حتى يمكن متابعة تقدمك. ستحتاج إلى إجراء فحوصات دم منتظمة للتحقق من مدى فعالية أدويتك.

• It is important that you continue to take zidovudine and your other antiretroviral treatment regularly. This will help to prevent the HIV from becoming resistant to the medicines you are taking. Even if you miss only a small number of doses, the virus can become resistant to treatment.

• If you develop an infection soon after you start the treatment, let your doctor know. As a result of taking zidovudine, your immune system may start fighting an infection which was present before you started the treatment, but which you may not have been aware of.

• اتبع بعناية أي نصيحة يقدمها لك طبيبك بشأن إجراء تغييرات في نمط الحياة لتقليل أي خطر على قلبك والأوعية الدموية. يمكن أن تشمل هذه التغييرات الإقلاع عن التدخين، وتناول الطعام الصحي، وممارسة التمارين الرياضية بانتظام.

• بعض الأشخاص الذين يتناولون الأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية يطورون تغييرات في طريقة توزيع الدهون في الجسم. يمكن أن يؤدي ذلك إلى تغييرات في صورة الجسم. سيناقش طبيبك إمكانية حدوث ذلك معك.

• على الرغم من أن العلاج بالأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية قد يقلل من خطر نقل فيروس نقص المناعة البشرية للآخرين من خلال الاتصال الجنسي، إلا أنه لا يوقفه تمامًا. من المهم أن تستخدم الواقيات الذكرية.

• It is not uncommon for people with HIV to feel low or even depressed, especially soon after the diagnosis has been made and treatment has been started. If you have any feelings of depression, or any distressing thoughts about harming yourself then you should speak with your doctor على الفور.

• Zidovudine has been associated with a serious side-effect in some people who have taken it. This is known as lactic acidosis. It is a problem where there is too much lactic acid in the blood. The symptoms associated with it are listed in the next section 'Can zidovudine cause problems?'. If you develop any of the symptoms listed below, you must let your doctor know على الفور ,، لأنها يمكن أن تتفاقم، وقد تصبح مهددة للحياة.

• بعض الأشخاص الذين تناولوا الأدوية المضادة للفيروسات القهقرية (خاصة لفترة طويلة) قد أصيبوا بحالة تسمى نخر العظام. هذه حالة مرضية تصيب العظام حيث تموت الأنسجة العظمية بسبب انخفاض تدفق الدم إليها. يؤدي ذلك إلى آلام في المفاصل وتيبس، ويمكن أن يسبب صعوبات في الحركة. إذا لاحظت أيًا من هذه الأعراض، تحدث مع طبيبك.

• If you buy any medicines, supplements or herbal remedies 'over the counter', check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with zidovudine and your other medicines. This is because some medicines interfere with antiretrovirals and can stop them from working properly.

• إذا كنت ستخضع لعملية جراحية أو علاج أسنان، أخبر الشخص الذي يقوم بالعلاج بالأدوية التي تتناولها.

• Treatment for HIV is usually lifelong. Continue to take zidovudine regularly for as long as your doctor tells you to, even if you feel well. This is to keep your immune system healthy.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with zidovudine. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. You should, however, speak with your doctor if you develop any of the following side-effects. This is because some of the common side-effects of zidovudine are similar to the symptoms of lactic acidosis - a less common but more serious problem.

سوف يناقش طبيبك معك إمكانية حدوث الحماض اللبني. أخبر طبيبك فورًا إذا ظهرت عليك أي من الأعراض التالية:

• الشعور بالغثيان أو التقيؤ، ألم في البطن، فقدان الشهية، فقدان الوزن، الشعور بالضعف أو الدوار، والتنفس السريع أو اللهاث.

إذا شعرت بأي أعراض أخرى تعتقد أنها قد تكون بسبب الدواء، تحدث مع طبيبك أو الصيدلي للحصول على مزيد من النصائح.

• احفظ جميع الأدوية بعيدًا عن متناول ورؤية الأطفال.

• احفظه في مكان بارد وجاف، بعيدًا عن الحرارة المباشرة والضوء.

• Once a bottle of Retrovir® Oral Solution has been opened it will keep for 30 days - after this time, make sure you have a fresh supply.