hiv antiretroviral

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Q: What is the annual cost of an antiretroviral drug used for HIV provention in thailand?
So i am trying to find out what the cost of an HIV prevention drug / antiretroviral drug would cost in thailand. I am looking for the annual ammount for 1 patient.

A: Hi,
This is by no means a winning answer. i am curious in this information myself.
However can I recomend you posting the question on www.thaivisa.com as there are many forum members who are receiving Hart and other retro-treatments.

Q: can Antiretroviral therapy give a false negative to a person who is hiv positive?
I'm not talking about the window period i'm talking about after primary diagnosis of the disease.A hiv + person on Antiretroviral therapy.i know this is possible but is rare and if so what blood test can garauntee accurate results even with Antiretroviral therapy

A: There are laboratory tests in the lab that are not just plain testing. Like for HIV..nowadays the technology can not be fooled. At the lab, HIV testing is so important (it is like risking our license if we release inaccurate results ), Aside from the usual test (where we use high-tech machines )we do also confirmatory tests. So basically, factors that are affecting the accuracy of result may be eliminated as the blood undergo the procedures. Well, as mentioned there may be small percentage of errors..but rare to occur. Hope this helps. God bless

Q: Do Antiretroviral drugs make HIV less contagious?
I am finding nothing about this in popular HIV literature. Scientific articles suggest drugs DO make it less contagious. I asked a well educated gay guy and he didn't know. If these drugs DO make it less contagious, is this being kept a SECRET to keep people scared and more cautious? That may be a mistake as an article in The Economist (see free archive, articles by subject) says a big reason HIV is still not declining greatly is that people are afraid to get tested...Interviewees say they fear discrimination if they test positive but I suspect they also want to keep enjoying unprotected sex. Maybe if they knew therapy would make them less contagious they would fear testing less?...Wierd logic but human.

A: You are right, though contagious is not the right word....infectious is more appropriate.

Antiretrovirals interupt and/or prevent HIV from replicating in the body. This reduces the amount of virus in the blood (viral load). The goal of therapy is to reduce the viral load to such a low level that it is undetectable (still there, but so few viruses they are not detectable when tested.)

We don't know everything about the relationship between viral load and transmission, but we do know:

1. In general, the higher one's viral load the more likely one is to transmit the virus and the lower one's viral load the less likely one is to transmit the virus.

If a person is NOT on HIV meds and their viral load is below 1500 it is rare for infections to occur. If a person's viral load is low BECAUSE they are on meds, see #2

2. A person with an "undetectable" viral load in the blood is still infected with HIV, can still have higher levels of virus in their genital fluids (especially in the presence of sexually transmitted diseases which can result in sharp increases in HIV viral load) and can still infect others. Cases have been recorded of transmissions with an undetectable viral load.

3. Effective Highly Active Anti-retroviral Treatment (HAART), taken properly, usually significantly decreases the amount of viral load. Despite these lower viral loads, increases in unsafe sexual behavior have actually caused the rate of HIV transmission to rise in recent years.

Check these out:
www.utoronto.ca/cip/viral load and HIV transmission NEJM00.pdf

http://www.natap.org/2000/march/hivsex_transmission33000.html

http://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/insite?page=ask-05-10-25

Q: How do they explain the non proliferation of HIV in a person under antiretroviral drugs?
Since ARV drugs don't act directively on the virus but on its life cycle process. How do virus disappear?

A: it doesnt....it just doesnt reproduce. Now, the body can get rid of certain infections on its own which is where the virus load actually decreases.Hope that was helpful. I'm sure you were expecting some big long drawn out answer which I could give you about how antibodies in the body work....but thats not what you asked.

Q: How effective are the new antiretroviral drugs used against HIV?
List of the new ARVs on: http://www.summaryworld.com/health/new-antiretroviral-drugs-used-against-hiv

A: New antiretroviral HIV / AIDS drugs are more effective than those of previous. More than twenty antiretroviral drugs have been .... used other antiretroviral medications) and patients new to HIV therapy. ... These drugs are more effective against HIV that has become resistant to other.

More generally, new antiretrovirals can bring benefits such as fewer side effects, less frequent dosing and a lower risk of drug resistance.

Antiretroviral drugs pipeline as of July 2009

Drug class Recently approved Phase III Phase II
Entry inhibitor (CCR5) Maraviroc (Aug. 2007)
Vicriviroc PRO 140
Entry inhibitor (CD4) TNX-355
Integrase inhibitor Raltegravir (Oct. 2007)
Elvitegravir
Maturation inhibitor Bevirimat
NNRTI Etravirine (Jan. 2008)
Rilpivirine
NRTI Apricitabine KP-1461
Racivir
Elvucitabine

CCR5 antagonists:
In order to enter a human cell, HIV must first attach itself to proteins on the cell’s surface. The virus always begins by latching on to a protein called CD4. The next stage involves proteins called co-receptors, of which there are two main types: CCR5 and CXCR4. Some strains of HIV use CCR5, others use CXCR4, and some can use either.

CCR5 antagonists are drugs that bind to the CCR5 co-receptor so that HIV cannot exploit it to gain entry to a cell. The main drawback of these drugs is that they don’t work against all strains of HIV.

Most people newly infected with HIV carry strains that only use the CCR5 co-receptor. As time passes the virus tends to diversify, so that around half of people in the more advanced stages of HIV infection have strains that can use CXCR4. So-called tropism tests can distinguish between the two types of virus, but these sometimes fail to detect low levels of the CXCR4-using strains.

Maraviroc became the first CCR5 antagonist to gain FDA approval in August 2007, and was approved in Europe the following month. This drug – marketed as Selzentry in the US and Celsentri in Europe – comes as tablets to be taken twice per day. Maraviroc is only approved for use in patients who have exhausted other treatment options, and so far sales have been lower than expected, largely because of the need to use tropism tests with relatively high rates of error. A more accurate tropism test was introduced in June 2008, and if maraviroc performs well in longer-term use then it may become more popular. There is even a chance that the drug could be approved for first-line treatment.

Vicriviroc is a similar drug undergoing Phase III trials in both treatment-experienced patients (that is, those who have already used other antiretroviral medications) and patients new to HIV therapy. The first studies were due to end in mid-2009. An earlier trial of vicriviroc raised concern that it might increase the risk of cancer, but larger studies have helped to allay such anxiety. It is likely that vicriviroc tablets will be suitable for once-daily dosing.

PRO 140 is in Phase II trials and is therefore a long way from approval. PRO 140 contains genetically engineered antibodies, similar to the proteins the human immune system employs to fight infections. This means that PRO 140 must be injected, or else it would be destroyed in the stomach. Because it remains in the body for a long time, PRO 140 may have to be injected only once or twice per month. Compared to maraviroc and vicriviroc, PRO 140 seems to have less impact on the useful functions of the CCR5 protein, which may mean it has fewer side effects.

Anti-CD4 antibodies
TNX-355 – also known as ibalizumab – blocks HIV from entering cells by binding to the protein CD4 on the cell surface. Like PRO 140, TNX-355 contains antibodies and is injected once every two weeks (or possibly even less often). A concern is that interfering with the CD4 protein on immune cells may impair the body’s ability to fight disease, but so far no such effect has been seen in studies. As with other injected antiretrovirals, the market for TNX-355 is likely to be small; as of August 2008 it was uncertain whether the manufacturer would continue with Phase II trials.

Q: Is it possible for an HIV positive mother on antiretroviral drugs to breastfeed her baby for three months?
If an HIV positive mother breastfeeds her baby for the first three months, can the child contract the virus?

A: Yes, the virus can be transmitted through breast milk. Why in the world would any mother be willing to risk her newborn's health like that when there is perfectly good formula available? That is one of the most irresponsible things I have ever heard of! The child's health should be the mom's first priority, which is why most mother's breast feed. However, in this case, breast feeding is actually putting the baby at a huge risk, which is just selfish.

The drugs do not cure HIV, they just manage the disease. It turns it into a chronic illness that must be managed instead of an automatic death sentence. Who wants their child to start off their lives with a chronic illness? Maybe the risk is lower due to the drugs, but it's still there!

Q: Do antiretroviral drugs for HIV create a chemical body odor / skin smell? ?
I dated a guy who was being treated for HIV and he had a metallic chemical smell. Since then I've noticed a similar smell on other people. Some of my friends suspect that I'm actually smelling methamphetamine, but I doubt any of these guys were meth heads. What's the word? Do antiretrovirals create a certain smell?

A: An increase in body odor is noted in many patients taking antiretrovirals. In addition, it is common for them to experience a metallic taste in their mouth. Additionally, as these meds also cause problems with fat distribution it isn't uncommon for them to go into ketoacidosis which can actually make their breath fruity smelling. So in conclusion i think what you are smelling could possible be from the drugs. It is also true though that meth can smell/taste metallic and smoking it may cause similar effects.

Q: is there any better medicine for HIV then Antiretroviral drug?

A: No. Some immuno-boosters can be useful in fighting the symptoms and preventing secondary infections, but we have no other class of drugs that can combat the AIDS retrovrius directly.

Q: Can one get HIV from one who is on antiretroviral administration? If the person is taking antibiotics?

A: YES.
Antiretrovirals dont completely wipe the virus out of the system. A few copies remain in the system and they can still infect other people.

Further more they could have some resistance to the Antiretrovirals and pass the already resistant strain of the virus.

Q: Risky to select Antiretroviral treatment for HIV ????
is it really risky to get antiretroviral treatment as this may cause serious side effects?? little more knowledge about this treatment will be very helpful...thanx in advance.

A: I have been HIV+ for 13 years and have been on lots of different treatments for HIV, for some people the treatment is harder to deal with then the virus, The Protease inhibitors over a long period of time can cause you to be diabetic, for some rash, high cholesterol, spider vains in your legs, sustiva taken for a long time has caused me to have high blood pressure, sustiva can over a period of time cause mental problems, there has even been people kill them self from the bad side effects, the only positive thing i can say about the drugs is they work, when i started treatment my t-4 count was 283 it is now 1348, i have spider vain es in my legs, high blood pressure but i can still live a very enjoyable life.

Q: i'm taking antiretroviral drugs such zidovudine,lamivudine and aviranz(efavirenz)tablet for prevention of hiv?
i was raped by two men without condom,i dont know their HIV status,though before i was giving the drugs i went for test and it was negative,but the doctor ask me to take the drugs in 3 months time i will come and check my hiv status but giving me an assurance that the drugs is going to work 99%.i'm still scared cos i dont know if i will be negative or positive.pls help me.i need ur advice

A: Hello. I am sorry to hear what happened to you. It is normal to feel scared. The doctors are treating you appropriately. If you were infected with HIV, then the antiretrovirals will act early on the infection, decrease the spread to the cells of the body and a better outcome overall. It is unlikely that you were infected with HIV, but it is still possible so it is important to continue the treatment until you get retested. I hope you are getting counseling or something to help you cope with this unfortunate event. If you are not, ask your doctor what resources are available. It is ok to be scared, but find someone to talk to about your fear. Good luck. Sorry again.

Q: How much does HIV treatment in Mexico cost for an expatriate?
Without insurance, how can an expatriate find adequate HIV treatment in Mexico at a reasonable cost, including appropriate first-line antiretroviral drugs.

A: .
If you don't have seguro social (mexican medicare) You can go to La Condesa clinic, and you can get free treatment, because in Mexico the care of AIDS, is treated as a human rigth.

If your question is real emailme.

Q: HIV Positive housekeeper, does she pose a risk to children in household?
Our housekeeper of many years has been tested HIV positive after having lost a lot of weight and feeling ill. She is on antiretroviral medication now, has picked up weight and is feeling fine. There are 3 children in the household, age 5,10 and 12. Do you think she poses a risk to them and if yes, how exactly could she be a risk to them?

A: Please don't worry as she poses virtually no risk. I am HIV+ and know a lot about this.
1= say for example she cuts her finger on a knife once the virus is airborne it dies within 5Min's.

2=As she is taking antivirals the risks are even lower

3=HIV is very difficult to catch e.g if she cut herself and you helped patch her up as long as you have no open wounds or sores on your hand you wouldn't even need to wear gloves to treat her (i would personally recommend that you do though as you can never be to care full)

If you want to research the subject visit www.nam.co.uk (national aids map) this will give you the low down in great detail.
I hope this has reassured you.

Q: What, if anything, is being done to lower the cost of drugs such as antiretroviral therapy for AIDS victims?
Antiretroviral drugs (drugs that allow HIV patients to temporarily live a healthy and normal life) are supposedly expensive. It is said that of 30 million Africans living with HIV & AIDS, only 50,000 are currently being treated with ARV drugs.

A: Good question. I wish I had an answer, too. You're right about the cost of those meds -- $15,000-$30,000 for the average person living with the virus, per year. Most of the 1 million individuals in the US living with HIV/AIDS have access to meds, although not all. Countries like Brazil take the bull by the horns and distribute AIDS meds free to all citizens with the virus! But the worldwide solution? Other than taking to the streets, shutting down the xeaseless war machine, demanding change from our governments, and working for global change, we've got to do what we can through prevention work (CONDOMS!!!! CLEAN NEEDLES!!! or ABSTAIN IF YOU CAN!!!!) to stop the spread of a virus that could potentially bring about the end of the human race, and hope that Big Pharma sees the light and releases the patents. Maybe some of Warren Buffett's billions will be channeled in that direction. We can hope and send energy in that direction!

Q: Does reverse transcriptase have a function in healthy humans?
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, the cause of AIDS) and the human T-cell lukemia virus (HTLV) are both retroviruses. As such, they do not contain DNA but contain RNA genetic instructions. In order to infect a cell they require the enzyme reverse transcriptase to copy the RNA into DNA that then infects the host cell.

Many HIV antiretroviral therapies work by interfering with the functioning of reverse transcriptase, thereby preventing the virus from completing the infection cycle.

Does reverse transcriptase have a function in healthy human cells? Are there normal processes that can be blocked by reverse transcriptase inhibitors?

A: Yes, reverse transcriptases (RTs) have a some importance in 'healthy' humans. All humans express a RT called 'telomerase', which is a ribonucleoprotein that helps to protect our chromosomes from wear and tear. There are known inhibitors of human telomerase. I'm not sure that the effects of such inhibitors on humans has been studied to much degree. However, telomerase inhibitors are known to destroy replicating cells in vitro, and for this reason, some scientists have suggested that they might be useful in cancer therapy.

In addition to telomerase, we also have RTs that play a role in retrotransposon relocation. Retrotransposons, or 'jumping genes', are tracts of DNA that can literally move themselves around the human genome to new (and quite random) locations. The ability of these retrotransposons to reinsert themselves into the genome requires the work of RTs, which are usually encoded by the transposons themselves (although in some cases, viral RTs can do the job). Because of the randomness of their relocation, retrotransposons can create mutations. So, the importance of retrotransposons in 'healthy' humans is certainly debatable. Some feel that transposons may have been responsible for important evolutionary developments and others see them simply as pests that occasionally create unfavorable mutations. If I'm not mistaken, there are inhibitors for the RTs involved to retrotransposon relocation. However, I don't think they've been studied in vivo, and I highly doubt that inhibition of these RTs would have any effect on day-to-day human health.