COMBIVIR A BOON
“Combivir” made big waves when it was approved last fall; it’s the first AIDS drug that packs two proven HIV-fighters, AZT and 3TC. As a result, Combivir users can take just two pills each day instead of seven. This will make an effective drug regimen easier to swallow, says Bradley Baker, M.D., of Chicago’s Center for Special Immunology.
RU486 STOPS HIV?
A lab study at the University of Pennsylvania found that RU486 (the French “abortion drug” that causes instant menstruation in women) disables an HIV protein that attacks immune-system cells. “RU486 may be helpful in fighting the immune-system suppression in HIV-positive people,” says David Weiner, Ph.D., associate professor of pathology.
NO SNEEZY ANSWER
Last year, the FDA warned that antihistamines that contain terfenadine (Seldane) and astemizole (Hismanal) can cause irregular heartbeats when combined with certain other drugs. Some anti-HIV protease inhibitors, such as nelfinavir, are on the danger list. Always ask your pharmacist about possible drug interactions. A prescription antihistamine, loratadine (Claritin), shouldn’t pose any threat.
HIV AND STROKES
In examining 236 stroke patients (ages 19 to 44) in an Atlanta hospital, researchers found that at least 25 were HIV-positive–not a likely coincidence. HIV-positive patients may face a higher risk of stroke, says study author Adnan Qureshi, M.D., of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. People fighting HIV who experience dizziness, slurred speech, or weakness on one side should seek immediate treatment.
