This information will help you to learn about options for HIV treatment. You should always check with your physician before making any changes to your treatment or drug regimen. AZT is an antiretroviral drug. It is used to treat HIV, which is a retrovirus.
Retroviruses use the genes in the body's cells to make more virus and infect other cells.
Like other antiretroviral drugs, AZT interferes with the life cycle of HIV to stop it from making more virus. Specifically, AZT links itself to the HIV genetic material so the virus cannot copy itself into the cell's genetic material. Some drugs taken together may have interactions that cause illness or make the drugs less effective. Not everyone has side effects. When they do occur, they may be mild, moderate, or severe.