Does peripheral neuropathy affect you? Are you on HAART?

Some people living with HIV will develop a disease of the nerves called peripheral neuropathy, or PN. People living with HIV are at a much higher risk due to a history of PN, low cd4 counts, high viral loads, medications that have damaged nerve cells, poor nutrition, diabetes and abuse of alcohol. HIV itself can cause PN by infecting the nerve cells, while some medications may contribute to the nerve damage in the later stage of HIV disease. The newer medications have not shown the risk for PN, though it may take several years before evidence of this side effect appears. It is important to talk with your doctor to help reduce further damages to your nerves. Talking to your doctor sooner rather than later will improve your diagnosis and outcome. Has PN affected your health living with HIV? Please tell us your thoughts.

HIV? On medications? Has your quality of life improved?

Has it been a difficult road while coping with HIV? Are you experiencing challenges due to the drug therapy you were prescribed? Come to an open discussion with experts on HIV therapy and ask questions related to your progress. A forum and panel discussion on HIV & medication side effects called Has your quality of life improved? will be presented by BCPWA. Tuesday, June 3rd @ 6pm in the Best Western Chateau Granville. (corner of Granville & Helmcken) Open to persons living with HIV and any other participants. Dinner provided. Please RSVP by June 1st to 604-893-2274 or email zorans@bcpwa.org.

Using marijuana? Are you HIV positive? Are you harming yourself?

Some people feel smoking marijuana offers relief from depression if you are HIV+, while others say it is harmful to your system. It's important for you to consider possible health risks before using marijuana. Immune function, lung complications, mental well-being, the worsening of asthma and possible increase of lung cancer over and above smoking tobacco are some of the harmful effects from smoking marijuana for someone HIV+. Marijuana may also increase your risk for certain infections, including herpes and a variety of other bacterial, viral and fungal infections. Smoking marijuana has become a popular treatment for HIV related weight loss improving the appetite and weight maintenance. Other studies show the use of marijuana does not increase the HIV disease progression or loss of CD4 cell counts. It has been the drug of choice for many who are living with HIV. The benefits to some offer immense relief from the day to day struggles of this disease. So, ask yourself the question. Is using marijuana worth the risk for you? Or is it an added ingredient to your wellness? Does the usage of marijuana affect your HAART therapy regime? What are your thoughts?

Abacavir. Part of your HIV therapy? Experiencing hypersensitivity?

Abacavir is a nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor with activity against HIV, available for once daily use in combination with other antiretroviral agents. It has shown positive results, few drug interactions, and a favorable long-term toxicity profile. Abacavir hypersensitivity reactions occur in 3% to 8% of patients starting the drug. Allergy to abacavir is strongly associated with the presence of the HLA-B*5701 gene, and a test has been developed to monitor patients for its presence. Symptoms of hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir include combinations of fever, rash, gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms that become more severe with continued dosing. A test to predict who will develop a severe allergic reaction to the anti-HIV drug abacavir is said to be accurate and found in the April 1st edition of Clinical Infectious Diseases. What is the alternative to taking this drug if you are experiencing hypersensitivity? Have you experienced hypersensitivity reaction? Did you need to switch medications? Give us your thoughts.