|
Nucleoside Analogues
(Reverse Transcriptease Inhibitors)
|
| Drug |
Taken |
Possible
Side Effects |
Compliance
Tips |
| 3TC (Iamivudine
Epivir) |
Twice a
day |
Headaches,
tiredness |
None |
| AZT (Zidovudine,
Retrovir) |
Three times
a day |
Muscle
pain, vomiting, nausea, tiredness, headaches, bone marrow suppression, anaemia,
periods can be more painful or longer |
- Take before meals
for maximum absorption, but if you feel sick take with a meal
- Start with a low
dose and increase over 2 or 3 weeks
- Avoid taking late
at night if it causes sleeplessness
|
| ddC (Aalcitabine,
Hivid) |
Three times
a day |
Peripheral
neuropathy (painful tingling of feet and sometimes in hands), mouth ulcers |
Take on
an empty stomach to maximise absorbtion of the drug |
| d4T (Zerit) |
Twice a
day |
Peripheral
neuropathy, headaches, diarrhoea, chills, fevers, nausea |
None |
| ddI (Videx) |
Twice a
day |
Diarrhoea,
bloating, stomach upsets, peripheral neuropathy, pancreatitis |
- Dissolve tablets
in ice cold water/apple juice to disguise taste (acid drinks like orange
juice or cola interfere with absorbtion)
- Take on an empty
stomach to maximise absorption
- Don't take with
tetracycline antibiotics
|
| Non
Nucleoside Analogues Reverse Transcriptease Inhibitors |
| Drug |
Taken |
Possible
Side Effects |
Compliance
Tips |
| Delavirdine
(Rescriptor) |
Three times
a day |
Rash (treatable),
fatigue, leg cramps, fever, liver problems, palpitations |
Tablets can be dissolved
in water
Avoid taking with
fatty food
Take at least 2 hours
apart from antacids
|
| Loviride
(Alpha-APA) |
Three times
a day |
Rash, itching,
diarrhoea |
Rash often
disappears if you stop treatment and restart |
| Nevirapine
(Viramune) |
Twice
a day |
Rash
(treatable), liver problems |
Increase
dose over 2 weeks |
| Protease
Inhibitors |
| Drug |
Taken |
Possible
Side Effects |
Compliance
Tips |
| Indinavir
(Crixivan) |
Three times
a day |
Kidney
stones, gravel in urine, pain in side and back, nausea |
-Take at strict 8
hour intervals
-Avoid large fatty
meals 2 hours before or 1 hour after taking. If really hungry you can
have a light fat-free snack or low fat drink
-Drink 1.5 litres
of non-alcoholic fluids daily to avoid kidney stones
|
| Nelfinavir
(Viracept) |
Three times
a day |
Diarrhoea
(treatable) |
Take with
food to maximise absorption |
| Ritonavir
(Norvir) |
Twice a
day |
Nausea,
vomiting, diarrhoea, taste abnormalities, loss of appetite, numbness or
tingling around mouth |
-Take at strict 12
hour intervals
-Take with a substantial
meal to maximise absorption.
-Milky drinks can
mask the taste and aid absorption
-Start at lower dose
and increase over first 14 days to minimise initial side effects
-Keep drug at a low
temperature
|
| Saquinavir
(Invirase) |
Three times
a day |
Nausea,
diarrhoea, abdominal discomfort, stomach upsets |
-Take at strict 8
hour intervals
-Take within 2 hours
of a large balanced meal
|
| Fusion
Inhibitors - new class |
| Drug |
Taken |
Possible
Side Effects |
Compliance
Tips |
| Fuzeon
(Enfurvitide) |
Twice a
day by injection |
Injection
site reactions which reduce with experience, increased energy |
After combining
the water and powder leave in a warm place, usuallyl after 20 minutes it
is ready to inject |
