Which of the following is NOT one of the side effects associated with Zidovudine?

• A. Bone marrow suppression
• B. Lactic acidosis
• C. PSC formation
• D. Macular edema

Answer: (C)

Zidovudine (AZT) toxicity comes mainly from mitochondrial toxicity, which affects rapidly dividing cells like those in the bone marrow. That’s why bone marrow suppression is a classic adverse effect, leading to anemia and neutropenia and requiring regular CBC monitoring. Lactic acidosis with hepatic steatosis is another well-known, serious toxicity of NRTIs due to mitochondrial dysfunction.

Posterior subcapsular cataract formation is not a recognized adverse effect of zidovudine, so it’s not something you’d typically expect with this drug. Macular edema isn’t a common or well-documented zidovudine toxicity either, but the option describing PSC formation is the one that does not fit Zidovudine’s side-effect profile.