Zalcitabine (2′-3′-dideoxycytidine, ddC), also called dideoxycytidine, is a nucleoside analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) sold under the trade name Hivid. Zalcitabine was the third antiretroviral to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. It is used as part of a combination regimen.
The most common adverse events at the beginning of treatment are nausea and headache. More serious adverse events are peripheral neuropathy, which can occur in up to 33% of patients with advanced disease, oral ulcers, oesophageal ulcers, and, rarely, pancreatitis.
One of the Neuropathy associated with drugs used for Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treatment
Zalcitabine(ddC; Hivid®): the least potent of the nucleoside analogs, therefore rarely used; dose-related neuropathy can be severe and persistent. More common in patients with DM or didanosine treatment.