Whether you've just started therapy or have been on therapy for several months or years, side effects are a major reason for switching therapies.
If you recently started anti-HIV combination therapy and are experiencing a severe side effect – uncontrollable and persistent diarrhea, for example – you can talk with your doctor about switching the offending drug for another drug that is similar in potency (strength) and associated with fewer or different side effects.
The same holds true if you've been receiving therapy for a while, have an undetectable viral load, but are experiencing a debilitating long-term side effect. A perfect example is lipodystrophy, a possible side-effect of anti-HIV therapy that can lead to disfiguring body-shape changes, along with increased levels of fats (triglycerides and cholesterol) and sugar (glucose) in the blood.
While the jury is still out regarding the exact cause of this problem, many researchers believe that it is a common side effect of most of the Protease Inhibitors (PIs), with the possible exception of Reyataz® (atazanavir). Some research has shown that switching the protease inhibitor for a Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NNRTI) (e.g., Viramune® [nevirapine] or Sustiva® [efavirenz]) might help reduce the severity of lipodystrophy. It is also believed that some of the Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) – particularly Zerit® (stavudine) – are responsible for the loss of fat in the arms, legs, and face of some people with HIV, a condition known as lipoatrophy. Some reports suggest that switching Zerit for another NRTI, most notably Epivir® (3TC), Ziagen® (abacavir), or Viread® (tenofovir DF), may help prevent further loss of fat, but may not necessarily help restore the fat that was lost.
For more information on lipodystrophy, click on the following lesson link:
Changes to Your Body (Lipodystrophy & Wasting)
Search for news stories about this topic