How zalcitabine works in the treatment of HIV infections

 Zalcitabine 

Zalcitabine is an antiviral drug and dideoxynucleoside compound, which is used in the treatment HIV infections. It is odorless, white to off-white crystalline powder. The melting point is 410⁰ to 418⁰ F. The moleculer weight of zalcitabine is 211.2 gm/mol. It is also known as, Dideoxycytidine, HIVID, zalcitadine, Hivid etc.

■Structure:-

The moleculer formula of zalcitabine is, 

                                                           [C9H13N3O3].

The IUPAC name of zalcitabine is,  

4-amino-1-[(2R,5S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)oxolan-2yl]pyrimidine-2-one.

■Mechanism of action:-

Zalcitabine is a dideoxynucleoside in which 3-OH group on the sugar moiety is replaced with hydrogen(H). Dideoxy cytidine 5-triphosphate is the active from of zalcitabine, which incorporating the viral DNA and terminate the viral DNA chain. Due to the lack of 3-hydroxy group the 5-3 phosphodiester linkage is inhibited. The linkage is required for DNA chain elongation. So the growth of viral DNA is terminating.

■Dosage:-

The usual adult dose for Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections is 0.75mg orally in every 8 hours(3 times daily). The pedriatic dose is 0.01 mg/kg intravenously in every 8 hours. 

■Uses:

It is used in the treatment of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, which is responsible for Aquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. 

■Side-effects:-

The overdose of zalcitabine shows different types of adverss effect like,

1. Ulceration.
2. Hypersensitivity.
3. Rash.
4. Numbness.
5. Constipation.
6. Nausea.
7. Vomiting. 
8. Pancreatis.
9. Tingling.
10. Lukopenia.
11. Pruritis.
12. Urticaria.
13. Thrombocytopenia.
14. Stomatitis.
15. Abdominal pain.
16. Peripheral neuropathy.

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