Hivid

There have been isolated reports of an extremely wide variety of additional problems occurring during Hivid therapy. Whether these problems were caused by the drug remains unclear. Nevertheless, it's wise to check with your doctor whenever any unexplained symptom develops.

Why should Hivid not be prescribed?

If Hivid gives you an allergic reaction, you cannot use this medication.

Special warnings about Hivid

If you have an advanced case of HIV, there is a one-in-three chance that Hivid will cause a serious nerve disorder called peripheral neuropathy. The first signs of this problem are numbness, tingling, and burning pain in the hands and feet. Check with your doctor as soon as any of these symptoms develop. If you continue to take Hivid, they will be followed by episodes of intense, sharp, shooting pain or severe, continuous, burning pain--and the condition could become irreversible. If Hivid is stopped promptly, the symptoms will gradually disappear.

Much more rarely, Hivid has been known to cause a dangerous inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), especially in people who have previously had the problem. The chief signs are bouts of severe abdominal pain--usually lasting for days--accompanied by nausea and vomiting. If these symptoms develop, call your doctor without delay. Hivid therapy must be discontinued permanently.

Other rare but dangerous side effects to watch for include liver failure, weakening of the heart, and ulcers in the mouth and the canal to the stomach (esophagus). Kidney disease increases the risk of these side effects. If you've ever had kidney, liver, or heart problems, have hepatitis, or tend to abuse alcohol, be sure your doctor is aware of the situation. If you develop a liver problem, treatment with Hivid may have to be stopped.

Like other HIV drugs, Hivid sometimes causes a redistribution of body fat, resulting in added weight around the waist, a "buffalo hump" of fat on the upper back, breast enlargement, and wasting of the face, arms, and legs. It's not known why this occurs, or what long-term effects it might have.