Staudine still holds good

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

It seems, the western HIV physicians almost exaggerated the side effects of the

ARV drug, d4T, as it was having worst complications and untoward effects. They

almost banned the drug.

I understand most of the ARV Pharmaceutical companies are going to stop

producing Staudine 40 mg Tablets (indicated for those who weigh above 60 kg) and

FD Combination containing the Staudine 40 mg.

I am having an experience with ART for more than 10 years. In my private clinic

I have treated not less than three hundred HIV clients eligible for ARV drugs

and I have come across another 5 hundreds on ART under care of tertiary teaching

hospitals and/ or under care of Nongovernmental organizations.

Among which more than 50% were on d4T+3TC+NVP combinations under care of Govt.

ART center and more than 70% were on this fixed dose combination with regards to

my private cases. Majority of them are doing well for more than 3-5 years

without morbid side effects whereas fatal side effects are observed with ZDV

(AZT), especially bone marrow depression which warrants immediate stopping of

drugs and life saving interventions including few bottles of blood transfusions.

Of course I had come across many incidence of peripheral neuritis and

lipo-atrophy and lipodystrophy not a case of lactic acidosis.

One of my patients is doing well with d4T+3TC+NVP combination for 7 years

without any single side effect and his viral load is well under control less

than non-detectable levels for the past three years and CD4 count is above 250,

whereas his initial CD4 count was below 50.

Staudine is comparatively cheaper drug, but equally effective and scores better

than other drugs especially with our patients in south Tamilnadu.

In the presence of pre-existing anemia and other blood dyscrasis this is the

ideal drug for a country like others. Many of my colleagues who treats HIV in

this area also shared the same experience

So we can still trust this drug especially for those affordability is very less.

Dr S.Murugan

Senior Consultant in HIV Medicine

e-mail: <muruganyes@...>