Drugs for AIDS and associated infections
Article Abstract:
At the present time, there are no drugs that can cure AIDS. Zidovudine (AZT), one of the first drugs developed for treating AIDS, has been shown to improve the survival time of AIDS patients, reduce the frequency of opportunistic infections and slow the progression from HIV infection to AIDS. However, continued use of zidovudine can lead to drug resistance (where the treatment is no longer effective), reduced numbers of red and white blood cells, nausea, vomiting, and muscle weakness. Dideoxyinosine (DDI) and dideoxycytidine (DDC) have been used to treat patients who have become resistant to zidovudine. DDI has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating AIDS, while DDC has been used strictly on an investigational basis. These drugs act in the same manner as zidovudine. DDI can cause nerve damage, pancreas damage and liver failure, and DDC can cause rash, fever, nerve damage and skin lesions or ulcers in the mouth. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is the most common infection occurring in AIDS patients. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is effective in treating PCP, but it causes fever, rash and bone marrow suppression. Pentamidine is effective in treating PCP, but it alters blood sugar levels, causes kidney failure, abnormal heart beats and pancreas damage. Lung and gastrointestinal infections with Mycobacterium avium are common in AIDS patients, but the benefit of treatment is controversial. Combinations of rifampin, ethambutol, clofazimine, ciprofloxacin, and amikacin have been used. Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine are the drugs of choice for treating toxoplasmosis (a disease that can damage the central nervous system). Tuberculosis in AIDS patients is treated with a combination of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. Oral candidiasis (a type of mouth infection) can be treated with nystatin, clotrimazole, ketoconazole or fluconazole. Cryptococcosis (a fungal infection that damages the brain and spinal cord membranes) is treated with amphotericin B and flucytosine, or fluconazole. Infections with Herpes simplex and cytomegalovirus are treated with acyclovir and ganciclovir, respectively. Foscarnet is used for treating patients who can not tolerate treatment with acyclovir or ganciclovir. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1991
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Drugs for AIDS and associated infections
Article Abstract:
New drug regimens may be effective in treating HIV infection and AIDS-associated infections. HIV infection cannot be cured, but clinical trials have shown that zidovudine (AZT), didanosine (ddI) and zalcitabine (ddC) may slow the progression of HIV infection to AIDS. Many drugs have been tested for the opportunistic infections associated with HIV infection and AIDS. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is used to prevent or treat Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP). Other drugs for PCP that have shown some effectiveness are pentamidine isethionate, dapsone, atovaquone, clindamycin and primaquine. Other opportunistic infections for which drugs have been tested include toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, mucosal candidiasis, systemic mycoses, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus infection, tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complex infection. Standard and alternative drug dosages are listed.
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1993
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More new drugs for HIV and associated infections
Article Abstract:
The FDA has approved four new drugs for HIV infection and its complications. They are nevirapine (Viramune), intravenous cidofovir (Vistide), amphotericin B oral suspension (Fungizone Oral Suspension) and nelfinavir (Viracept). Nevirapine is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor and nelfinavir is a protease inhibitor. Both are used to treat HIV infection. Cidofovir is used to treat cytomegalovirus retinal infection, a complication of AIDS. Amphotericin B is used to treat candidiasis, another complication of AIDS.
Publication Name: Medical Letter on Drugs and Therapeutics
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0025-732X
Year: 1997
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