New ART drug proves boon for HIV patients

Mysuru:  Here is good news for HIV patients. They can now have a near normal life, with enhanced life span of 15 more years, and minimal side effects with new alternative Anti Retro Viral Therapy (ART) drugs. Though it was announced in December last year, government of India has started providing the new drug Dolutegravir instead of Efaverenz along with Tenofovir Lamivudine free of cost for HIV positive patients at all ART centres since November this year, according to Dr V H T Swamy of Asha Kirana Hospital, Mysuru which is the only stand alone health care facility for HIV/AIDS in Karnataka.

Dr Swamy said that Efaverenz had multiple side effects including kidney problem, liver, pancreatitis, rashes, psychiatric issues including nightmares, sleeplessness, mental problems, illusions, delusions. But Dolutegravir has no such side effects. This new combination of medicines are given in first line ART itself now. And it has been so effective that the viral load comes under control within six weeks after the administering the medicine to the infected person, Dr Swamy said. Dr Swamy lamented that even 33 years after the infection was detected, patients are still facing stigma and discrimination. Recently, when a man tested positive for HIV, his family members were more keen on knowing the cause of his infection, rather than focusing on his treatment, he said.