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AIDS Treatment Side Effects

A broad range of antiretroviral drugs are used in the treatment of HIV disease, normally combined into a treatment plan with several drugs called HAART (highly active antiretroviral therapy). These drugs can have a number of side effects, ranging from mild to very serious; each drug has its own range of side effects and it is not possible to know how a given individual will be affected by drug therapy.

  1. Most Common Side Effects

    • According to Avert.org, the most common side effects found overall in antiretroviral treatment for HIV disease are diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, rash and lipodystrophy (redistribution of body fat).

    NRTIs

    • Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) as a class of drugs cause side effects such as lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the blood), fatty liver and lipodystrophy. According to HIV InSite, the NRTI abacavir can cause a severe hypersensitivity reaction.

    NNRTIs

    • Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) overall are associated with side effects including rash as well as two conditions, Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis, which can cause the death and loss of skin. HIV InSite states that NNRTIs may also have serious interactions with other drugs.

    Protease Inhibitors

    • Protease inhibitors (PIs) cause largely metabolic side effects, including increased fat in the blood, high blood sugar levels, resistance to insulin and lipodystrophy. According to HIV InSite, PIs may increase bleeding in people with hemophilia, and like NNRTIs, PIs interact with other drugs.

    Other Drugs

    • There are three other classes of antiretroviral drugs, each containing only one drug. According to HIV InSite, the fusion inhibitor enfurvitide may cause injection site reaction, decreased white blood cell production and increased pneumonia. Maraviroc, a chemokine coreceptor antagonist, has side effects such as diarrhea and nausea, hepatitis, infections of the upper respiratory tract, fatigue, dizziness and aches and pains. The integrase inhibitor raltegravir may cause digestive trouble, affect liver function, headache and muscle pain, dizziness, strange dreams, rash and fatigue.

    Reporting Side Effects

    • It is important for people taking any antiretroviral drugs to tell their doctors about the side effects they are experiencing. Treatment plans may need to be adjusted if side effects are severe, but a drug regimen should only be altered on the advice of a doctor.

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