Southern Alberta HIV Clinic

Drug Information

Paediatric Patients

AZT for Your Newborn

Q: Why Should My Baby Receive AZT?

A: When a woman who is HIV-positive becomes pregnant, there is a risk that her baby may also become infected with HIV. Babies can become infected in the womb, during labour, or if the baby is breast-fed. When not treated, many babies born to HIV positive women become infected with HIV. Your doctor wants to prevent your baby from becoming infected. Giving AZT to your newborn will decrease their risk of becoming HIV positive.

Q: What is AZT?

A: AZT is an anti-HIV medication. There are many anti-HIV medications. AZT is given to newborns whose mothers have HIV. Treating a newborn with AZT reduces the risk of the baby becoming infected with HIV by as much as 70%.

Q: What Dose Should My Baby Get?

A: The dose of AZT your baby gets depends on how much they weigh and their gestational age at birth. AZT treatment should begin within eight to 12 hours of birth, and continue for six weeks.

Full-Term Babies

Full-term babies should receive ONE of the following:

Receive 2 mg/kg/dose orally every 6 hours.
1.5 mg/kg/dose intravenously every 6 hours.

Premature Babies

Premature babies should receive ONE of the following:

<35 weeks gestation at birth: 2 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours.
1.5 mg/kg/dose intravenously every 12 hours advancing to every eight hours at two weeks of age if greater than 30 weeks gestation at birth, or at four weeks, if gestational age at birth is less than 30 weeks.

IMPORTANT: It is important to give each dose to your baby on time. This ensures there is enough medicine in your baby’s body to fight the virus at all times.

Q: How Do I Get AZT?

A: AZT for babies comes as a syrup (concentration of 10 mg/ml), which can be given orally. When you leave the hospital with your new baby, you will be given a prescription for the syrup that can be filled for free at the outpatient pharmacy at the Foothills Medical Centre, the pharmacy at the Southern Alberta Clinic, or the pharmacy at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.

Store the syrup at room temperature and away from light. Ask a nurse or a pharmacist about how to give the syrup to your baby.

Q: What are the Possible Side Effects?

A: AZT may cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. It may also cause fever and headache. Go to the emergency department at the Alberta Children’s Hospital immediately if your baby becomes ill like this, or very fussy while taking AZT.

There is a chance that AZT may cause problems with your baby’s blood. Your baby’s blood may have a decreased number of red or white blood cells. These are rare side effects, and blood tests done on your newborn can easily pick them up. You may be asked to bring your newborn to the Alberta Children’s Hospital for blood tests. It is very important to keep your follow up appointments at the Alberta Children’s Hospital so your baby can be checked for side effects.

Q: What if I Have Questions?

A: If you have any questions about your medications, or to refill your prescription, contact the pharmacist at SAC at (403) 955-6388.

***24-hour notice is appreciated for refills.***

References

AIDS treatment information service (ATIS). Current treatment guidelines at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov. September 22, 2003.

Capparelli EV, Mirochnick M, Dankner WM et al [Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 331]. Pharmacokinetics and Tolerance of zidovudine in preterm infants.
J Pediatr 2003;142:47-52

Zidovudine information sheet. Calgary Health Region. Last reviewed November 1999. See Zidovudine (Retrovir^®(AZT)

Zidovudine monograph from Foothills Hospital neonatal intensive care handbook 2000

Prepared by Jinell (BSc Pharm), reviewed and approved by Dr. T. Jadavji, paediatric infectious disease specialist.

Drug Information Sheets: Zidovudine (Retrovir^®, AZT)

Pregnancy & HIV

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Southern Alberta Clinic Home About the Clinic HIV Information HIV disease description Epidemiology of HIV Information for Patients Booking process Medical Visits Disease management plan Nutrition services Social work Paying for drugs Lab and blood work Research Information for Professionals Clinic protocols Treatment guidelines Clinic Policies Laboratory monitoring Education Opportunities Enrolment stats Drug Information Drug information sheets Paediatric patients Formulations Drug interactions Research Collection and usage of data Research activity Publications and abstracts Resources Community resource list HIV/AIDS links Glossaries Contact Us	Southern Alberta HIV Clinic Drug Information Paediatric Patients AZT for Your Newborn Why Should My Baby Receive AZT \| What is AZT \| What Dose Should My Baby Get \| How Do I Get AZT \| What are the Possible Side Effects \| What if I Have Questions \| References \| Related Pages \| Quick Links Q: Why Should My Baby Receive AZT? A: When a woman who is HIV-positive becomes pregnant, there is a risk that her baby may also become infected with HIV. Babies can become infected in the womb, during labour, or if the baby is breast-fed. When not treated, many babies born to HIV positive women become infected with HIV. Your doctor wants to prevent your baby from becoming infected. Giving AZT to your newborn will decrease their risk of becoming HIV positive. Back to top Q: What is AZT? A: AZT is an anti-HIV medication. There are many anti-HIV medications. AZT is given to newborns whose mothers have HIV. Treating a newborn with AZT reduces the risk of the baby becoming infected with HIV by as much as 70%. Back to top Q: What Dose Should My Baby Get? A: The dose of AZT your baby gets depends on how much they weigh and their gestational age at birth. AZT treatment should begin within eight to 12 hours of birth, and continue for six weeks. Full-Term Babies Full-term babies should receive ONE of the following: Receive 2 mg/kg/dose orally every 6 hours. 1.5 mg/kg/dose intravenously every 6 hours. Premature Babies Premature babies should receive ONE of the following: <35 weeks gestation at birth: 2 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours. 1.5 mg/kg/dose intravenously every 12 hours advancing to every eight hours at two weeks of age if greater than 30 weeks gestation at birth, or at four weeks, if gestational age at birth is less than 30 weeks. IMPORTANT: It is important to give each dose to your baby on time. This ensures there is enough medicine in your baby’s body to fight the virus at all times. Back to top Q: How Do I Get AZT? A: AZT for babies comes as a syrup (concentration of 10 mg/ml), which can be given orally. When you leave the hospital with your new baby, you will be given a prescription for the syrup that can be filled for free at the outpatient pharmacy at the Foothills Medical Centre, the pharmacy at the Southern Alberta Clinic, or the pharmacy at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Store the syrup at room temperature and away from light. Ask a nurse or a pharmacist about how to give the syrup to your baby. Back to top Q: What are the Possible Side Effects? A: AZT may cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. It may also cause fever and headache. Go to the emergency department at the Alberta Children’s Hospital immediately if your baby becomes ill like this, or very fussy while taking AZT. There is a chance that AZT may cause problems with your baby’s blood. Your baby’s blood may have a decreased number of red or white blood cells. These are rare side effects, and blood tests done on your newborn can easily pick them up. You may be asked to bring your newborn to the Alberta Children’s Hospital for blood tests. It is very important to keep your follow up appointments at the Alberta Children’s Hospital so your baby can be checked for side effects. Back to top Q: What if I Have Questions? A: If you have any questions about your medications, or to refill your prescription, contact the pharmacist at SAC at (403) 955-6388. *24-hour notice is appreciated for refills.* Back to top References AIDS treatment information service (ATIS). Current treatment guidelines at www.aidsinfo.nih.gov. September 22, 2003. Capparelli EV, Mirochnick M, Dankner WM et al [Pediatric AIDS Clinical Trials Group 331]. Pharmacokinetics and Tolerance of zidovudine in preterm infants. J Pediatr 2003;142:47-52 Zidovudine information sheet. Calgary Health Region. Last reviewed November 1999. See Zidovudine (Retrovir^®(AZT) Zidovudine monograph from Foothills Hospital neonatal intensive care handbook 2000 Prepared by Jinell (BSc Pharm), reviewed and approved by Dr. T. Jadavji, paediatric infectious disease specialist. Back to top Related Pages Drug Information Sheets: Zidovudine (Retrovir^®, AZT) Pregnancy & HIV Back to top Quick Links Return to Drug Information Home Back to top Download the latest version of Adobe Reader for free at www.adobe.com.
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