ZALCITABINE Meaning and
Definition
-
Zalcitabine, also known by its generic name dideoxycytidine (ddC), is a synthetic nucleoside analogue medication primarily used for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It belongs to the class of antiretroviral drugs called nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs).
Zalcitabine works by inhibiting the activity of the enzyme reverse transcriptase, which is essential for the replication of the HIV virus. By interfering with the reverse transcription process, zalcitabine prevents the virus from converting its RNA genome into DNA, thereby inhibiting its ability to multiply and spread within the body.
The drug is available in oral tablet form and is usually taken as part of combination therapy, where it is used in conjunction with other antiretroviral medications to improve efficacy and reduce the risk of viral resistance. It is typically prescribed for individuals with HIV infection who have experienced treatment failure or intolerance to other antiretroviral drugs.
Like other NRTIs, zalcitabine can cause side effects, including peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis, liver toxicity, and hematologic abnormalities. Therefore, regular monitoring of blood cell counts, liver function, and pancreatic enzymes is essential during treatment.
Zalcitabine was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the early 1990s as one of the first antiretroviral drugs used in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. However, due to its toxicities and the development of more effective and tolerable antiretroviral therapies, zalcitabine is no longer commonly prescribed in current HIV treatment guidelines.
Common Misspellings for ZALCITABINE
- xalcitabine
- salcitabine
- aalcitabine
- zzlcitabine
- zslcitabine
- zwlcitabine
- zqlcitabine
- zakcitabine
- zapcitabine
- zaocitabine
- zalxitabine
- zalvitabine
- zalfitabine
- zalditabine
- zalcutabine
- zalcjtabine
- zalcktabine
- zalcotabine
- zalc9tabine
- zalc8tabine
Etymology of ZALCITABINE
The word "zalcitabine" is a combination of two parts: "zalci-" and "-tabine".
The first part, "zalci-", does not have a direct etymology. It is believed to be a unique name assigned to this specific drug and does not have any widely known linguistic or historical roots.
The second part, "-tabine", is a suffix commonly used in pharmaceutical nomenclature to indicate a class of antiviral drugs. It is derived from the nucleoside analogue "cytosine" and is added to the generic name of the drug to indicate its similarity to cytosine and its antiviral properties.
Therefore, the word "zalcitabine" is a created name specific to this drug, combining the unique element "zalci-" with the common pharmaceutical suffix "-tabine".
