The recommended Retrovir dosage for adults and children over age 12 is 200 mg three times daily or 300 mg twice daily. For children 6 weeks to 12 years old who are taking the drug, dosing is determined based on height and weight. Taking a Retrovir dose of 100 mg five times daily can help prevent transmission of HIV from a pregnant woman to her baby.
Retrovir Dosage: An Introduction
The dose of
Retrovir® (
zidovudine) 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 have
- Other medications (especially other HIV medications) you are currently taking.
As always, do not adjust your Retrovir dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
Retrovir Dosage for Adults With HIV or AIDS
The recommended dose of Retrovir 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 daily (known as the HIV "pill burden") and lowers the chance that you will forget to take the medicine. Retrovir should be used in combination with other HIV medications as part of an HIV "cocktail" (this is known as Highly Active Retroviral Therapy, or HAART).
Retrovir Dosage for Children With HIV or AIDS
The recommended dose of Retrovir when treating 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 your child's current height and weight, and will recommend a Retrovir dosage based on this calculation. With children, Retrovir 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 Retrovir 200 mg three times daily.
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