News / Health
Zimbabweans get a New HIV drug
21 Feb 2011 at 13:56hrs | Views
Zimbabwe's Ministry of Health and child welfare is with effect from 1st April going to abolish the first line anti-retroviral drug 'Stavudine' and replaces it with Tenofovir.
The first line Anti-retroviral drug had some serious side effects, hence the changing over.
"When it comes to this change over, the priority will be on those patients who have been experiencing severe side effects with the stavudine based treatment. We are also so prioritizing those patients who have been on this first line treatment for more than three years because we think that they might have developed resistance to the drug. All new patients will also be placed on this new drug as well," Deputy Director for Aids and TB programmes in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Charles Sandy said in an interview with ZimEye.
Dr Sandy said the new anti-retroviral drug is a combination of ART with fewer side effects.
Some of the most common side effects of stavudine which is being dropped are headaches, diarrhoea, and nausea. In most cases, the side effects are minor and can easily be treated by healthcare provider.
Other side effects include yellowing of the skin or eyes and signs of an allergic reaction, including an unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing.
According to the government at least 593 000 people in urgent need of Anti-retroviral Treatment.
The first line Anti-retroviral drug had some serious side effects, hence the changing over.
"When it comes to this change over, the priority will be on those patients who have been experiencing severe side effects with the stavudine based treatment. We are also so prioritizing those patients who have been on this first line treatment for more than three years because we think that they might have developed resistance to the drug. All new patients will also be placed on this new drug as well," Deputy Director for Aids and TB programmes in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, Dr Charles Sandy said in an interview with ZimEye.
Dr Sandy said the new anti-retroviral drug is a combination of ART with fewer side effects.
Some of the most common side effects of stavudine which is being dropped are headaches, diarrhoea, and nausea. In most cases, the side effects are minor and can easily be treated by healthcare provider.
Other side effects include yellowing of the skin or eyes and signs of an allergic reaction, including an unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, difficulty breathing or swallowing.
According to the government at least 593 000 people in urgent need of Anti-retroviral Treatment.
Source - ZimEye
