Zidovudine Dosing

For adults and children over age 12 who are taking zidovudine, dosing typically starts at 200 mg three times daily or 300 mg twice daily. Healthcare providers generally offer dosing recommendations for children 6 weeks to 12 years old based on height and weight. To prevent HIV transmission to an unborn child, the recommended zidovudine dosage for the mother is 100 mg five times daily.

 

An Introduction to Zidovudine Dosing

The dose of zidovudine (Retrovir®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
 
  • Your age
  • Your height and weight (particularly for children)
  • Other medical conditions you may have
  • Other medications (especially other HIV medications) you may be taking.
     
As always, do not adjust your zidovudine dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Zidovudine Dosing for Adults With HIV or AIDS

The recommended dose of zidovudine when treating adults and children over 12 years old with HIV or AIDS is 200 mg three times daily or 300 mg twice daily. The twice-daily dose is usually preferred, since it reduces the number of pills you must take every day (known as the HIV "pill burden") and lowers the chance that you will forget to take the medicine. Zidovudine should be used in combination with other HIV medications as part of an HIV "cocktail" (this is known as Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy, or HAART).
 

Zidovudine Dosing for Children With HIV or AIDS

The recommended dose of zidovudine for HIV or AIDS in children 6 weeks to 12 years old is based on height and weight. Your healthcare provider will calculate your child's body surface area using his or her current height and weight, and will recommend a zidovudine dosage based on this calculation. For children, zidovudine should be taken three times a day (every eight hours) and should be used in combination with other HIV medications. The maximum dose for children in this age range is zidovudine 200 mg three times daily.
 
(Zidovudine Dosing Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;