What Is Azt (Zidovudine)?
AZT is a drug used for antiviral therapy and is also known as azido-deoxythymidine zidovudine or ZDV. AZT was the first drug approved for the treatment of HIV. It is a nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor, or nuke. These drugs block the reverse transcriptase enzyme. This enzyme changes HIV’s genetic material (RNA) into the form of DNA. This has to occur before HIV’s genetic code gets inserted into an infected cell’s own genetic codes. Because AZT was the first anti-HIV drug approved, it has been studied more than any other drug. New drugs have been tested by comparing them to AZT. And because there is more research on AZT than on any other anti-HIV drug, it is prescribed the most often. “Early treatment” with AZT was tested in people with no symptoms of HIV disease. The study showed no benefit to taking AZT. But AZT is used as part of combination therapy for people who are exposed to HIV through a workplace accident (needle stick or splash). AZT greatly reduces transmissio
