Drug & supplement interaction

Kinetin + Zidovudine

Zidovudine brand names: Retrovir, Retrovir Injection.

No Known Interaction
The bottom line No known interaction

We found no known interaction between Kinetin and Zidovudine in our sources. Absence of a documented interaction is not the same as proven safety, and does not guarantee one does not exist. Do not start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on this page; confirm with your pharmacist or doctor first. Additionally, although there is no interaction, the two are separately associated with some of the same side effects, which would make a new symptom harder to attribute to one or the other.

Know someone taking this? Share
Interaction report

Kinetin and Zidovudine

We checked these two against our interaction database. Here is what we found.

No Known Interaction Found

We did not find a documented interaction between Zidovudine and Kinetin in our sources. This does not guarantee that the combination is completely free of risk — there is often limited research on supplements and herbal products, especially around drug interactions.

If you decide to take both, the practical routine is simple: add one new thing at a time and note the date you started it. If the combination is going to disagree with you, it usually shows in the first days to a couple of weeks — and a start date turns “I’ve been feeling off” into something a pharmacist can actually work with. Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own.

Always talk with your pharmacist or doctor before making changes to your medications or supplements, particularly if you take several medications or have an ongoing health condition.

Kinetin safety at a glance

Kinetin overall Use caution Generally used topically in cosmetics; oral supplement use is not well studied and not recommended.
Pregnancy Avoid There is not enough safety information, so it is best to avoid during pregnancy unless your doctor approves.
Breastfeeding Avoid Safety during breastfeeding has not been established, so caution or avoidance is advised.

Safety guidance is general; always confirm with your pharmacist or doctor for your situation.

Still wondering about combining Zidovudine and Kinetin? Ask Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS directly ›
How we checked

Why No Interaction Is Listed for Zidovudine

Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes, not just single drug names. Zidovudine is filed under 4 classifications — including nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (nrtis), organic anion transporter 1 (oat1) substrates, hepatotoxic drugs. Kinetin has documented interactions with 1 drug class — the most serious being anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs (moderate) — and none of Zidovudine’s classifications are among them.

Classification data comes from our licensed Natural Medicines dataset. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded there, so this describes how the check was run — it is not a safety guarantee.

Keep it in perspective

Kinetin Does Interact With Other Medications

Kinetin has 122 moderate known drug interactions in our database — Zidovudine isn’t one of them. If you take anything else, check it against the full list below.

Taking anything else?

Check Another of Your Medications Against Kinetin

Covers the 2,830 medications we’ve checked against Kinetin. Pick one to open its full report.

What to actually watch for

No Interaction Found — But Data Suggests Kinetin and Zidovudine May Share Several of the Same Side Effects

This is not an interaction. Neither one changes how your body handles the other, and nothing here says they react together. What our sources do show is that each has separately been linked to the effects below — so taking both can make those effects more likely to turn up, and harder to pin on one or the other if they do.

  • Headache Additional detail

    Kinetin

    “Orally, the most common adverse effect reported from kinetin is nausea. Headache, diarrhea, tinnitus, flushing, and rash are less common. Topically, kinetin seems to be well tolerated. Erythema, dryness, peeling, burning, stinging, and itching have been reported. However, it is unknown if these symptoms are related to kinetin or other ingredients in the products used.”

    Kinetin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    3 sources cited
    1. 100046. Gold-von Simson G, Goldberg JD, Rolnitzky LM, et al. Kinetin in familial dysautonomia carriers: implications for a new therapeutic strategy targeting mRNA splicing. Pediatr Res. 2009;65(3):341-6. PubMed
    2. 100044. Wanitphakdeedecha R, Meeprathom W, Manuskiatti W. Efficacy and safety of 0.1% kinetin cream in the treatment of photoaging skin. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2015;81(5):547. PubMed
    3. 100050. Wu JJ, Weinstein GD, Kricorian GJ, Kormeili T, McCullough JL. Topical kinetin 0.1% lotion for improving the signs and symptoms of rosacea. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2007;32(6):693-5. PubMed

    “Orally, kinetin has been reported to cause headache rarely. Limited research suggests that this reaction is not dose-dependent.”

    Kinetin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in cluster headache.

    1 source cited
    1. 100046. Gold-von Simson G, Goldberg JD, Rolnitzky LM, et al. Kinetin in familial dysautonomia carriers: implications for a new therapeutic strategy targeting mRNA splicing. Pediatr Res. 2009;65(3):341-6. PubMed

    Zidovudine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Zidovudine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

  • Nausea Additional detail

    Kinetin

    “Orally, the most common adverse effect reported from kinetin is nausea. Lower doses generally cause mild nausea; however, doses of 16.8 mg/kg to 23.5 mg/kg daily increase the chance of severe nausea. Kinetin has also been reported to cause diarrhea, although at a lower rate.”

    Kinetin · Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, reported in diarrhea.

    1 source cited
    1. 100046. Gold-von Simson G, Goldberg JD, Rolnitzky LM, et al. Kinetin in familial dysautonomia carriers: implications for a new therapeutic strategy targeting mRNA splicing. Pediatr Res. 2009;65(3):341-6. PubMed

    Zidovudine

    Listed in the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of the FDA label for Zidovudine. Read the label on DailyMed ›

Reported for Kinetin but not commonly for Zidovudine: diarrhea, flushing, ringing in the ears and itching.

Effects for Zidovudine come from the ADVERSE REACTIONS section of its FDA label; effects for Kinetin come from the Natural Medicines adverse-effect record, quoted above. Wording is matched across sources by our own clinical vocabulary, so treat this as a prompt to pay attention, not a diagnosis.

Everything else you take

See Every Supplement That Interacts With Zidovudine

This page covers Kinetin only. If you take other supplements — a multivitamin, a sleep aid, something for joints — the Zidovudine page lists 60 supplements it has a documented interaction with, worst first, each one explained.

The most serious there right now: Activated Charcoal (major), Beer (major), Siberian Cocklebur (major), Wine (major) and African Wild Potato (moderate).

By severity: 4 major · 47 moderate · 9 minor.

From our pharmacist’s overview on the Zidovudine page

“The liver is where the biggest danger on this page sits. Zidovudine (Retrovir), an HIV medicine that can strain the liver on its own, has 38 listed ingredients capable of piling on additional liver stress, led by Siberian cocklebur, a major-rated entry linked to actual liver failure.”

Reviewed by 2 · Jul 18, 2026

Open the Zidovudine interaction page

How much people look this up

Where Kinetin and Zidovudine Sit Against Everything Else

Out of every supplement and medication people look up on HelloPharmacist, here is where these two land this week — and which way each has been moving.

Supplement Kinetin
Steady interest

#1,391 of 1,452 supplements looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today
Medication Zidovudine
Steady interest

#2,760 of 2,830 medications looked up here in the last 7 days

29 days ago today

Position among everything looked up on this site, not a measure of how commonly either one is used or how important it is. A supplement can climb this list because of a news story. It counts every request to the page, automated ones included, and nothing here identifies anyone.

Where does our data come from?
  • Source: the Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) clinical database — the evidence-graded professional reference for herb & supplement interactions.
  • Citation library: 103,510 references behind our interaction content, 65,311 of them resolved to verified PubMed/DOI sources. See every Kinetin reference on this page ↓
  • Freshness: we automatically re-check this combination every week — this pair was last verified September 13, 2026. The Kinetin and Zidovudine records this page draws on were last updated July 10, 2026.
  • What “no known interaction” means: no documented interaction in the sources above — not a guarantee of safety. Supplements are studied far less than prescription drugs, so we say exactly what the evidence supports, and nothing more.
Data structure & sourcing designed and verified by .
Supplement

About Kinetin

What is Kinetin?

  • Anti-aging skincare
  • Skin smoothing and texture
  • Reducing skin dryness and roughness
  • Evening skin tone
  • Cosmetic moisturizing

Kinetin is a plant growth hormone (a cytokinin) used mainly in topical anti-aging and skincare products, not as an oral dietary supplement. Early laboratory research and small studies suggest it may help skin texture and hydration, but high-quality human evidence is limited. If you want to try it, use it as a cosmetic skin product and check with a pharmacist or dermatologist, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Plant-derived cytokinin (a type of plant hormone); used as a purified compound · Topical creams, serums, lotions, and cosmetic skincare products

An interaction check asks whether these two react with each other — it does not ask whether Kinetin is a good idea for someone in your situation. Here is what our Kinetin record says about it on its own.

Kinetin: dosing

There is no established standard dose for kinetin, and it is not meant to be taken as an oral supplement. In cosmetic skincare, it appears as one ingredient among many, usually in low concentrations.The best approach is to follow the directions on the product label for how often to apply it. Do not assume that using more product more often will give better results.

From our Kinetin monograph — the full record covers uses, side effects and every documented interaction.

Read the full Kinetin monograph & all interactions
Medication

About Zidovudine

What Is Zidovudine Used For?

Brand names: Retrovir, Retrovir Injection

Zidovudine is used in combination with other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults and children. It is available as capsules, tablets, oral solution, and — as Retrovir injection — intravenously for patients who cannot take oral forms.

Retrovir (zidovudine) capsules, oral solution, and injection are also approved to help prevent HIV-1 from passing from a pregnant mother to her baby. This prevention regimen involves treating the mother before and during labor, and then treating the newborn after birth. In most cases, other antiretroviral medicines are used alongside zidovudine for this purpose.

See full Zidovudine drug information
Keep checking

Other Drugs & Kinetin

Browse every other medication we’ve checked against Kinetin — both the ones with a known interaction and the ones without. Select any drug for the full detail.

0Major
122Moderate
0Minor
2,707No known interaction
Moderate

122 interactions

Showing 60 of 122 moderate interactions — see all 122 on the Kinetin page.

No interaction 2,707 drugs checked — show the list
Evidence & sources

Kinetin References

The 7 references that drive our Kinetin monograph and interaction data, from the evidence-graded Natural Medicines (TRC Healthcare) database. Citations with a link open the study on PubMed or the publisher’s site.

  1. Hsiao, G., Shen, M. Y., Lin, K. H., Chou, C. Y., Tzu, N. H., Lin, C. H., Chou, D. S., Chen, T. F., and Sheu, J. R. Inhibitory activity of kinetin on free radical formation of activated platelets in vitro and on thrombus formation in vivo. Eur J Pharmacol PubMed
  2. Adunka, O., Moustaklis, E., Weber, A., May, A., von Ilberg, C., Gstoettner, W., and Kierner, A. C. Labyrinth anesthesia--a forgotten but practical treatment option in Meniere's disease. ORL J Otorhinolaryngol.Relat Spec. 2003;65(2):84-90.
  3. Sheu, J. R., Hsiao, G., Shen, M. Y., Chou, C. Y., Lin, C. H., Chen, T. F., and Chou, D. S. Inhibitory mechanisms of kinetin, a plant growth-promoting hormone, in platelet aggregation. Platelets. 2003;14(3):189-196. PubMed
  4. Wanitphakdeedecha R, Meeprathom W, Manuskiatti W. Efficacy and safety of 0.1% kinetin cream in the treatment of photoaging skin. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2015;81(5):547. PubMed
  5. Gold-von Simson G, Goldberg JD, Rolnitzky LM, et al. Kinetin in familial dysautonomia carriers: implications for a new therapeutic strategy targeting mRNA splicing. Pediatr Res. 2009;65(3):341-6. PubMed
  6. Chiu PC, Chan CC, Lin HM, Chiu HC. The clinical anti-aging effects of topical kinetin and niacinamide in Asians: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, split-face comparative trial. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2007;6(4):243-9. PubMed
  7. Wu JJ, Weinstein GD, Kricorian GJ, Kormeili T, McCullough JL. Topical kinetin 0.1% lotion for improving the signs and symptoms of rosacea. Clin Exp Dermatol. 2007;32(6):693-5. PubMed

Medication overviews come from MedlinePlus (NIH); supplement label data from the NIH Dietary Supplement Label Database. Content is written and reviewed by licensed HelloPharmacist pharmacists — see our data sources and editorial standards.

Pharmacist Counseling Corner

Taking Kinetin and Zidovudine Together: Common Questions

Is it safe to take Kinetin with Zidovudine?
We do not list a known interaction between Kinetin and Zidovudine. That does not guarantee the combination is risk-free, so confirm with your pharmacist or doctor — especially if you take other medications or have a health condition.
Do Kinetin and Zidovudine have any of the same side effects?
Yes — our sources link each of them separately to 2 of the same effects. That is not an interaction: neither changes how your body handles the other. It does mean that if one of those effects turns up, it can be harder to tell which one is behind it. They are listed on this page with the source behind each.
How was the Kinetin and Zidovudine combination checked?
Interactions in our licensed database are recorded against drug classes. Zidovudine is filed under 4 classifications, and Kinetin has documented interactions with 1 drug class — none of Zidovudine's classifications are among them. A medication can belong to classes beyond those recorded in our dataset, so this describes how the check was run rather than guaranteeing safety.
Does Kinetin interact with any other medications?
Yes. Kinetin has 122 documented drug interactions in our database — Zidovudine is simply not one of them. If you take anything else, it is worth checking each one; they are all listed on this page.
Does Zidovudine interact with any supplements?
Yes. Zidovudine has documented interactions with 60 supplements in our database — Kinetin is not one of them. The Zidovudine interaction page linked on this page lists every one, ranked by severity.

Written and reviewed by the HelloPharmacist editorial staff. Our editorial policy

Still Have a Question About Zidovudine and Kinetin?

Our pharmacists answer your medication & supplement questions — free.

Ask a pharmacist

This information is for education only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always check with your pharmacist or doctor before starting, stopping, or combining supplements and medications.