zidovudine + didanosine

**Zidovudine + didanosine** is an oral combination of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), **zidovudine** (also known as AZT) and **didanosine** (also known as ddI), used as antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Both agents are phosphorylated intracellularly to active metabolites that act as chain terminators of viral DNA by competing for incorporation into viral DNA by reverse transcriptase, thereby blocking viral replication[4][2][6][1][8]. The rationale for combining them is to enhance antiviral efficacy, limit resistance development, and provide additive or synergistic effects[1][3][8]. Clinical studies have shown that the combination leads to more sustained increases in CD4 cell count and delays progression to AIDS or death, compared to monotherapy[3][8].

Other names

AZT + ddIRetrovir + Videxzidovudine and didanosine