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The hidden dangers of life-saving HIV treatment
AIDS drug may increase heart risks say researchers
"It may be that we can continue to use them, but we need to be aware of their long-term problems"
According to the online medical journal publication Lancet, researchers claim that another less common AIDS drug does increase the risk of a heart attack by 50 per cent.
The two drugs Ziagen and Videx have both been identified in the study as possibly increasing the risk of heart problems however they do not recommend patients to abandon the drugs. Instead they suggest speaking to their personal physician.
AIDS drugs "are wonderful and lifesaving, but they do have toxicity problems," said Dr. Charlie Gilks, an AIDS treatment expert at the World Health Organization. "It may be that we can continue to use them, but we need to be aware of their long-term problems."
Most AIDS drugs are used in combinations and could be switched with others that your doctor approves of. Also while there seems to be a correlation with these drugs and heart problems, no definitive conclusions have been made.
The Federal Drug Administration stated that they would be reviewing the two drugs last week (full story).
Other possible side effects include liver and kidney failure, chronic fatigue syndrome, hepatitis and jaundice.
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