Washington, D.C. -
A three-drug cocktail has proved clearly superior to other combinations at treating newly diagnosed HIV patients researchers said Wednesday. The international team of scientists based their conclusions on the biggest head-to-head comparison of AIDS medications to date.
The combination of efavirenz, lamivudine and zidovudine, better known as AZT along with Combivir and Sustiva works better and longer, is easier to take, and suppresses the virus more quickly.
Another advantage of this regimen is that it enables doctors to preserve a powerful class of drugs called protease inhibitors for later use, the researchers said.
But, they specifically warned against starting new patients on drug combinations including didanosine, or Videx, and stavudine, or Zerit, because they are less potent and have more toxic effects.
With 20 HIV drugs on the market and hundreds of possible combinations, the latest findings could simplify doctors' decisions.
The study involved patients at 58 hospitals and clinics in the United States and 23 in Italy. Researchers led by doctors at Harvard and Stanford universities tested several three and four drug combinations of six HIV medicines.
While drug cocktails have dramatically extended the lives of people with the AIDS virus, some regimens require taking up to 21 pills daily, at different times and under specific conditions, such as with food or water.
That makes it tough for patients -- especially ones who have other health problems or are homeless -- to stick with the treatment. Missing even 5 percent of pills can speed up drug resistance.
The results of the study are published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine.
©365Gay.com® 2003
The combination of efavirenz, lamivudine and zidovudine, better known as AZT along with Combivir and Sustiva works better and longer, is easier to take, and suppresses the virus more quickly.
Another advantage of this regimen is that it enables doctors to preserve a powerful class of drugs called protease inhibitors for later use, the researchers said.
But, they specifically warned against starting new patients on drug combinations including didanosine, or Videx, and stavudine, or Zerit, because they are less potent and have more toxic effects.
With 20 HIV drugs on the market and hundreds of possible combinations, the latest findings could simplify doctors' decisions.
The study involved patients at 58 hospitals and clinics in the United States and 23 in Italy. Researchers led by doctors at Harvard and Stanford universities tested several three and four drug combinations of six HIV medicines.
While drug cocktails have dramatically extended the lives of people with the AIDS virus, some regimens require taking up to 21 pills daily, at different times and under specific conditions, such as with food or water.
That makes it tough for patients -- especially ones who have other health problems or are homeless -- to stick with the treatment. Missing even 5 percent of pills can speed up drug resistance.
The results of the study are published in this week's New England Journal of Medicine.
©365Gay.com® 2003
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
