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JANUARY 2010
Dealing with
drug side effects
Dealing with drug side effects can be challenging. Every HIV drug has its own Learn to recognize, monitor and
possible side effects as well as the drugs that prevent and treat infections. These manage side effects should they arise.
effects can vary from person to person. Some people experience few or no side Often, simple solutions exist to lessen
many of them. In other cases, a par-
effects at all, while some have ones that are mild and manageable. For others, they
ticular side effect may be an impor-
may be quite severe.
tant signal that requires immediate
medical attention.
Whenever you have symptoms, it’s Are women different?
important to talk to your doctor to
Women may experience a different
diagnose the cause. But regardless of Caring for your whole self
type or rate of side effects compared
how severe or persistent the side ef-
to men, including therapies not relat- Some conditions believed to be side
fects are, you can try some things to
ed to HIV. Why this is is not well un- effects may actually be due to anxiety,
manage them.
derstood. It may be due to differences depression or stress. Caring for your
in the way a woman’s body breaks whole self—your emotions, thoughts
The key to coping down or stores drugs. Generally and general health—can help minimize
speaking, women have smaller body negative feelings and their effects.
The key to coping with side effects is
weight/sizes than men. It may be that, There are some things you can do
knowing what to watch out for and
for their weight, some women take that may make the adjustment period
having a plan in place to respond if
too high a dose of drug. This could easier. If possible, take some time off
they occur. If a drug you’re taking or
also be an issue for men with small work or lighten your schedule to give
are planning to take has a side ef-
frames. Women’s hormones may also you time to adjust to the change. If
fect that may be life-threatening, it’s
affect drugs. Or it may be due to other things get hard, see if someone can
important to know what these early
unknown differences. help out around the house or with
symptoms are and to monitor for
children or other obligations.
them. It’s also possible to prevent or
Take time to re-prioritize your
reduce some side effects by taking What to look for? health needs, and make sure you eat
certain preventive therapies a few
Many people experience an adjust- well and get plenty of sleep and rest.
days before or at the same time as
ment period when starting a new Try to get a little exercise during the
starting a new regimen.
therapy. This usually lasts about 4–6 day—even if just taking a walk.
Before starting any therapy, talk to
weeks as your body adapts to the Most importantly, reach out for
your doctor or pharmacist about the
new drug. During this time, you may support—be it your family, friends or
risk of side effects. This information
experience headache, nausea, muscle support group. If you can, let them
usually comes from studies conducted
pain and occasional dizziness. These know what’s going on. Sometimes just
on the drug. Ask how often side ef-
kinds of side effects typically lessen or talking helps, but they may also have
fects were reported.
disappear as your body adjusts. ideas to help ease your side effects.
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JANUARY 2010
Dealing with drug side effects
A word about switching fatigued, ask yourself: how long?
Are there activities that are difficult
Sometimes people facing serious side
today that weren’t a problem a few as they may make it worse.
effects will switch drugs simply to im-
months ago? Are you having trouble
prove their quality of life, even though
sleeping or sleeping more than nor-
they were controlling HIV well. This Peripheral
mal? Provide your doctor with this
is one way to deal with side effects. Neuropathy
information.
Switching a drug solely because of
Peripheral neuropathy
side effects may also save that drug TIPS FOR FATIGUE
is caused by damage to
as a future treatment option. In fact,
nerves, symptoms of
side effects that you have with a drug the same time every day. Changes in
which include burning, stinging, stiff-
at one time may not occur again if or your sleep schedule can actually make
ness, tickling or numbness in the feet,
when you try that drug again. you feel tired.
toes or hands. These can be mild or
However, it’s dangerous to simply
severe enough to prevent walking. Pe-
stop taking one drug in your regi- eases stress and makes you feel stron-
ripheral neuropathy can be caused by
men, reduce its dose without talking ger and alive.
HIV itself or as a side effect of some
to your doctor or pharmacist, or only
HIV-related drugs.
take it every now and then. This can for times you’re too tired to cook.
Treatment usually involves stop-
lead to drug resistance, making that
ping or decreasing the offending
drug—and perhaps others—less use-
Rash drug(s). However, no drug can reverse
ful for you now or in the future.
nerve damage. If neuropathy is severe,
Rash seems to occur
it’s a good idea to consult a doctor
slightly more often
Fatigue among women taking
that specializes in pain management.
It’s not unusual to feel certain HIV drugs than TIPS FOR PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY
tired, especially when men, like Viramune (nevirapine) and
life is hectic. A sense of Viracept (nelfinavir). Of note, women cotton socks, and padded slippers
tiredness that doesn’t go appear more prone to severe rash as around the house. Good air circula-
away with rest is a problem. If ignored, well. It’s important to check your skin tion around the feet helps.
fatigue can worsen. for discoloration and changes in its
Symptoms can be physical—like it’s surface, especially after starting a new
difficult to getting out of bed or walk medicine. feet (a good thing), but too much can
up stairs. They can also be psycholog- make the problem worse.
TIPS FOR RASH
ical—like having a hard time concen-
trating. Fatigue is also a symptom of pain.
hand to soothe and comfort skin.
another drug side effect—anemia.
Getting a handle on it begins with
cleansers or oatmeal soaps.
acknowledging it. If you’re feeling
peripheral neuropathy.
TOLL-FREE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS TREATMENT HOTLINE 1-800-822-7422 LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL 415-558-9051 MONDAY–FRIDAY 10–4 PACIFIC TIME

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JANUARY 2010
Dealing with drug side effects
Diarrhea Dry Mouth cloths over your eyes; massage the
base of your skull with your thumbs
The biggest concern is Dry mouth is an un-
and massage both temples gently;
that diarrhea can cause comfortable condi-
take hot baths.
dehydration. So the first tion, making chewing,
course of action is to replenish lost swallowing and talking difficult. It can
Avoid or limit foods known to trigger
liquids by drinking plenty of fluids, affect your sense of taste and can pro-
them, especially caffeine (coffee, tea,
like Gatorade, ginger ale, chicken mote mouth problems.
soft drinks, some meds), chocolate, red
or beef broth, herb tea or just plain
TIPS FOR DRY MOUTH wine, citrus fruit (more than 1/2 cup a
water. Chronic diarrhea may lead to
day), food additives (like MSG), nuts,
weight loss. Foods that provide nutri-
with salted warm water. onions, hard cheese and vinegar.
ents, calories, and absorb liquid (like
the BRAT diet) are good ways to deal
food stores) to moisten the mouth.
with diarrhea. Hair Loss
TIPS FOR DIARRHEA or crushed ice to cool the mouth. Most people experience hair loss as they
get older, though it can hurt one’s self-
slows diarrhea by absorbing liquid, between meals. confidence. Sudden or abnormal hair
like oatmeal, cream of wheat, grits - loss can result from taking certain drugs.
and soft bread (not whole grain). feinated drinks.
TIPS FOR HAIR LOSS
food stores). One study showed that
practices, such as dyeing, perming,
two bars eaten one hour before bed- treating dry mouth.
straightening, braiding, corn-rowing,
time with water can help diarrhea.
using hair dryers, etc.
-
ber, like the skins of vegetables and Headache
for some, but not all, cases of baldness.
fruits. The most common
cause of headache is
reduce stress and anxiety.
high-fiber or very sweet foods. tension. Different med-
icines can also cause them. Headaches
are mostly just a pain and can be eased Anemia
by over-the-counter meds like aspirin,
Anemia is low red blood cells. These
Pepto-Bismol. acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen
cells deliver oxygen throughout your
sodium. They can also be helped, and
body. When your body is short on ox-
prevented, by reducing stress.
ygen, you feel fatigued. Long-term or
TIPS FOR HEADACHE severe anemia can damage your body.
Most people with HIV have anemia
your eyes closed; place cold wash- at some point. HIV can cause it, as do
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JANUARY 2010
Dealing with drug side effects
many HIV drugs , like Retrovir (zido- TIPS FOR NAUSEA AND VOMITING TIPS FOR WEIGHT LOSS
vudine, AZT). For women, problems
with periods can also be a cause or Applesauce, and Toast) helps. weight, work with your doctor to de-
symptom of anemia. Severe anemia -
requires a blood transfusion. ing, eat a few dry crackers and sit in vomiting? Started a new medicine?
bed for a few minutes.
TIPS FOR ANEMIA
Med-Rx. Look for products high in
can help calm the stomach. protein and low in sugar.
iron and vitamin B-12, both of which
may lower risk of anemia. Period Problems
greasy foods. Period problems are common in all
and lima beans are high in folic acid,
women, but particularly in women
another nutrient that may lower risk
with broth, carbonated beverages, with weakened immune systems.
of anemia.
juice, Jell-O or popsicles. These include irregular, heavier,
- lighter and/or painful periods or the
can lower the risk of anemia.
efits/risks of anti-nausea meds. end of them altogether. These can be
a side effect of some meds. Excessive
help correct moderate anemia.
periods may also occur. It’s a good
Weight Loss idea to track your periods, noting
drugs that are causing the anemia.
Weight loss can be a changes if they occur.
serious problem in HIV
TIPS FOR PERIOD PROBLEMS
Nausea and disease. It can result
Vomiting from vomiting, nausea, dry mouth,
life. Losing weight? Stressed out?
anemia or fatigue.
Feelings of nausea and Addressing these and other factors
The signs can be obvious but are
the urge to vomit vary might help in more ways than one!
not always seen as a problem. In
greatly among people. The two symp-
fact, many positive women who lose
toms often occur together. Certain water bottle or a heating pad over
weight due to HIV are praised and
medications used to treat HIV or its your lower stomach or back. Or take
told they “look good”.
related conditions can cause nausea. a hot bath.
If you lose weight and it’s not be-
Persistent vomiting can lead to serious
cause you changed your diet or exer-
medical problems, like dehydration, stretching. Exercise may increase
cise, it’s never a good thing. Talking to
chemical imbalances and even tearing blood flow and decrease pain.
a doctor to identify its cause is critical
of the windpipe. Call your doctor or if
to treating unwanted weight loss.
nausea or vomiting persists. sometimes used to regulate abnormal
periods. Some HIV drugs interact
with the pill.
TOLL-FREE NATIONAL HIV/AIDS TREATMENT HOTLINE 1-800-822-7422 LOCAL & INTERNATIONAL 415-558-9051 MONDAY–FRIDAY 10–4 PACIFIC TIME