What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Doxorubicin and zidovudine
Zidovudine's FDA label of February 10, 2025 names doxorubicin in its drug interactions section; the doxorubicin labels PlainMeds reads (2) do not name zidovudine. The zidovudine label: “Avoid use with doxorubicin.”
Check it at the source: the doxorubicin FDA label on DailyMed (effective May 5, 2026, Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc); the zidovudine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 10, 2025, Aurobindo Pharma Limited).
What does the doxorubicin label say about zidovudine?
Doxorubicin's label (effective May 5, 2026) and its 1 other brand-application label do not name zidovudine in these sections. A label lists what its studies and reports found; it is not a complete list.
Source: FDA drug label (Doxorubicin Hydrochloride), Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer Inc, effective May 5, 2026 (SPL set 1fd148fb-0fbc-4b6f-b790-23546fb46a71), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the zidovudine label say about doxorubicin?
Zidovudine label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Avoid use with stavudine. ( 7.1 ) Avoid use with doxorubicin. ( 7.2 ) Bone marrow suppressive/cytotoxic agents:
Retrovir label (ViiV Healthcare Company, November 13, 2024), drug interactionsAvoid use with doxorubicin.
Retrovir label (ViiV Healthcare Company, October 30, 2013), drug interactionsConcomitant use of zidovudine with doxorubicin should be avoided since an antagonistic relationship has been demonstrated in vitro (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY for additional drug interactions).
Source: FDA drug label (Retrovir, NDA019655), ViiV Healthcare Company, effective November 13, 2024 (SPL set 6df09f15-b102-431c-adde-d7aeef6f5d84), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Retrovir, NDA019951), ViiV Healthcare Company, effective October 30, 2013 (SPL set 360d8a6d-d3b6-43ef-8764-e99d831880a4), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Zidovudine), Aurobindo Pharma Limited, effective February 10, 2025 (SPL set 51abd2ce-6be1-412d-b806-5f24935ac5e3), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Doxorubicin | Zidovudine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma, Breast cancer | HIV |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | $0.464 per tablet 300 mg tablet |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once