Ever since AIDSmeds.com was launched in March 2000, we have received a number of notices from readers concerned about the side effects of Sustiva®, a popular anti-HIV drug among health-care providers and people living with HIV. Data from clinical trials have demonstrated that drug regimens containing Sustiva can drastically reduce viral load and increase T-cell counts in a wide range of people. And its once-a-day dosing has made it an attractive option for patients seeking easier treatment regimens.
But, like all anti-HIV drugs, Sustiva can cause side effects, especially during the first few weeks of treatment. Some of Sustiva's potential side effects are unique among anti-HIV drugs, mostly involving symptoms related to the nervous system. For this reason, there is a lot of discussion and concern among those who are thinking of starting or switching to Sustiva. What do we know about these side effects? Are there ways to prepare for or prevent them? How long do they last? If they don't go away, are there ways to manage them?
This lesson has been prepared to help our readers who are currently taking or thinking about starting Sustiva better understand some of the side effects they've been experiencing or are hearing about. While it's true that side effects of Sustiva therapy can be frustrating and make life difficult, there are steps that can be taken to help lessen their severity and, in some cases, prevent them from occurring in the first place. This lesson is not an endorsement of Sustiva, nor is it a warning against taking the drug.
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