Side Effects of Zidovudine (Cont.)

Serious Side Effects of Zidovudine

Some side effects with zidovudine, while occurring infrequently, are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. These include but are not limited to:
 
  • Anemia
 
  • Frequent infections, which may be a sign of low neutrophil levels in the blood (known medically as neutropenia)
 
  • Unusual bleeding or bruising, which may be a sign of low blood platelets (known as thrombocytopenia)
 
  • Symptoms of lactic acidosis (too much lactic acid in the blood), such as:
 
    • Feeling tired or weak
    • Muscle pain
    • Trouble breathing
    • Stomach pain
    • Feeling cold
    • Cold or blue hands and feet
    • Dizziness or lightheadedness
    • A slow or irregular heartbeat
    • Persistent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • An enlarged or tender liver
    • Weight loss
 
  • Signs of liver problems, such as:
 
    • Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
    • Dark urine
    • Liver enlargement or pain
 
  • Changes in the distribution of fat on your body (such as a "buffalo hump")
 
  • Signs of an allergic reaction, including:
 
    • Unexplained rash
    • Hives
    • Itching
    • Unexplained swelling
    • Wheezing
    • Difficulty breathing or swallowing.
 
(Side Effects of Zidovudine Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;