POZ Community Forums

HIV Prevention and Testing => Do I Have HIV? => Topic started by: cobiz on June 22, 2006, 05:30:13 am

Title: Anti-Aids drug+infection prevention!
Post by: cobiz on June 22, 2006, 05:30:13 am
I just read an article in one Kenyan newspaper and it talked about an anti aids drug which can be used shortly after any exposure to prevent the hiv virus development. Does anyone know anything about this drug and it's availability in Europe. I have pasted the article below here. 

Cobiz



We need to tread carefully on effectiveness of Aids drug

The anti-Aids drug, Tenofovir, is said to offer protection against HIV infection in monkeys, but its efficacy in humans is yet to be established.

Trials are at an advanced stage for the world’s first ever "before-sex" Aids pill, but we have to wait a little longer.
The experiments — mainly by scientists in the US, Ghana and Thailand — cover 6,600 people. They are aimed at establishing the effectiveness of Tenofovir, believed to offer protection against HIV infection even during unprotected sex.

Kenyan scientists are also exploring possibilities of starting clinical studies on the drug. If all goes well, a person will only need to pop one or two pills for protection before sex.
But scientists warn against slackened use of condoms and practising abstinence because the drug might not offer protection against other sexually transmitted diseases.

Anti-Aids drugs prevent infection if taken shortly after exposure to HIV, but people now want to take these drugs before sex to prevent transmission.

Researchers also warn that the side-effects of the drugs on healthy people should be established. Medline Plus, a health management organisation, warns in its website http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/500339.html that Tenofovir will not cure Aids or prevent HIV infections.

But it may keep HIV from reproducing, which may slow down the destruction of the immune system. This may delay the development of HIV/Aids related diseases.

Tenofovir, however, will not keep you from spreading HIV to other people, and those taking the drug may continue to suffer from Aids related illnesses.

Tenofovir is currently used as an antiretroviral, and is available under the brand name, Viread. By last year, there were six human clinical trials of the drug as a prevention pill.

Tenofovir was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration on October 26, 2001, and is marketed by Gilead Sciences.

It is in late-stage clinical trials for the treatment of hepatitis B.

The fixed-dose combination of tenofovir with emtricitabine was approved in 2004 for once-a-day dosing. The fixed-dose triple combination of tenofovir, emtricitabine and efavirenz is in development.

The risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do.

This is a decision researchers should consider before declaring Tenofovir an effective "before-sex" pill.
Title: Re: Anti-Aids drug+infection prevention!
Post by: Matty the Damned on June 22, 2006, 05:35:45 am
Cobiz,

I doubt the wisdom of posting such things in the Am I Infected? forum. I really think you should just concern yourself with your own issues and stick to your own thread. Dealing with the people who post here is challenging enough without you raising these sorts of issues.

Regards,

MtD
Title: Re: Anti-Aids drug+infection prevention!
Post by: cobiz on June 22, 2006, 05:43:24 am
Hi MTD, what is all this thing about sticking to your thread about? I don't understand please explain it to me and after all, I just posted this article for awareness which I believe is part of everyone concern.

Regards
Title: Re: Anti-Aids drug+infection prevention!
Post by: RapidRod on June 22, 2006, 06:30:42 am
Read the Welcome Post's guidelines.
Title: Re: Anti-Aids drug+infection prevention!
Post by: Ann on June 22, 2006, 09:48:23 am
cobiz,

This is the third thread you have started. You have already been asked to stay in one thread.

It helps us to help you when you keep all your additional thoughts or questions in one thread. With this in mind, I'm locking this one so you can return to your original thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=571.msg5463#msg5463)

If you need help finding your thread when you come here, click on the "Show own posts" link under your name in the left-hand column of any forum page.

Please also read through the Welcome Thread (http://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=220.0) so you can familiarize yourself with our Forum Posting Guidelines.

Keep posting new threads and I will keep locking them. It would be much simpler for everyone if you just stayed in the thread I linked you to above.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Ann