Short-term, combined use of paracetamol and zidovudine does not alter the pharmacokinetics of either drug.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a possible pharmacokinetic interaction between zidovudine and paracetamol.


METHODS
Six patients with AIDS took both zidovudine (AZT; 1000-1200 mg/day) and paracetamol (500 mg every 6 h) for 7 days. Pharmacokinetic monitoring was performed on day 0 (AZT alone) and after 7 days of combined use of paracetamol and AZT.


RESULTS
Combined use of paracetamol and AZT did not result in a significant change in any of the calculated pharmacokinetic parameters of AZT or its primary metabolite AZT-glucuronide. In addition, paracetamol pharmacokinetic parameters at day 7 did not differ from those usually reported in the literature.


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term, combined use of paracetamol and AZT does not lead to a change in the pharmacokinetics of either AZT or paracetamol. The effect of long-term use of this combination remains unknown. A recent case report of AZT-induced paracetamol hepatotoxicity [Am J Med 1992;93: 94-96] indicates that clinicians should still be aware of potential drug toxicity when prescribing both AZT and paracetamol.
Department of Pharmacy, Slotervaart Hospital, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
D M
DM
Burger
P L
PL
Meenhorst
W J
WJ
Underberg
J F
JF
van der Heijde
C H
CH
Koks
J H
JH
Beijnen
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
D000082:Acetaminophen; D015215:Zidovudine; C055886:3'-azido-3'-deoxy-5'-O-beta-glucopyranuronosylthymidine