Efavirenz (Sustiva,Atripla) may cause memory declines

Meds, Mind, Body & Benefits > Questions About Treatment & Side Effects

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Matts:
Johns Hopkins study suggests the commonly prescribed anti-retroviral drug efavirenz attacks brain cells :

"The way the body metabolizes a commonly prescribed anti-retroviral drug that is used long term by patients infected with HIV may contribute to cognitive impairment by damaging nerve cells, a new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

Nearly 50 percent of people infected with HIV will eventually develop some form of brain damage that, while mild, can affect the ability to drive, work or participate in many daily activities. It has long been assumed that the disease was causing the damage, but Hopkins researchers say the drug efavirenz may play a key role.

People infected with HIV typically take a cocktail of medications to suppress the virus, and many will take the drugs for decades. Efavirenz is known to be very good at controlling the virus and is one of the few that crosses the blood-brain barrier and can target potential reservoirs of virus in the brain. Doctors have long believed that it might be possible to alleviate cognitive impairment associated with HIV by getting more drugs into the brain, but researchers say more caution is needed because there may be long-term effects of these drugs on the brain....."

Full story:http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/popular_hiv_drug_may_cause_memory_declines

Miss Philicia:
Good thing I was only on it for 4-5 months thirteen years ago.

phildinftlaudy:
I've don't think I have had any decline in memory since being on Atripla...

and I've been on it since......

Well, dayummmm, I can't remember...

Anqueetas:
Thank god I made the switch from Sustiva to Viramune. That pill is toxic, make me dizzy, brain fog, cloud my thinking judgement etc.

Skydrake:

--- Quote from: Anqueetas on November 19, 2012, 09:23:26 AM ---Thank god I made the switch from Sustiva to Viramune. That pill is toxic, make me dizzy, brain fog, cloud my thinking judgement etc.

--- End quote ---

Idem, like drinking a 2-3 Coca & Bacardi every evening, even after a year.
At least I saved money on alcohol. ;D ;D ;D ;D

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