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The triple-cocktail treatment for HIV
involves taking three different drugs to combat the infection. These
medications are two nucleoside analog drugs, such as AZT and 3TC, and
a protease inhibitor, such as Crixivan. The drugs drastically reduce
the concentration of viri in the bloodstream to undetectable levels
by affecting enzymes in the virus itself. The drugs do not completely
eliminate every virus in the body and probably never will. It is not
certain whether patients taking the drugs may still be able to transmit
HIV to other people. In addition, the drugs are not a vaccine which
can be prevent a person from being infected with HIV.
Some common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, headache, kidney stones,
and serious drug interactions. Protease inhibitors also may cause unusual
fat deposits, such as in back of the neck, and high levels of fats and
cholesterol in the bloodstream, which indicates that they may interfere
with a person's metabolism. Rarely, a patient may develop diabetes or
hyperglycemia. Since the effect of protease inhibitors on the body are
not entirely known, there may be other long-term side effects.
The total cost of the medication may be as much as $12,000 a year. Some
health insurance companies cover the drugs.
Sources:
"AIDS IS NOT OVER! Warns AIDS Action Council,"
http://www.neac.org/neaction/Fall97/AIDSACTION.HTM, 2/18/98.
"Side effects are reported in a promising AIDS therapy," Boston
Globe, A10, 2/5/98.
"The Hopkins HIV Report: Are Protease Inhibitors Cost Effective,"
http://www.thebody.com/jh/hivrept/nov96/procost.html,
2/18/98.
"Triple Drug 'Cocktail' Reduces Death," http://www.neac.org/neaction/Fall97/COCKTAIL.HTM,
2/18/98.
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