Medicines commonly used to treat symptoms in people with AIDS

Medicines in this section are listed under each heading according to their generic names (scientific names) rather than their brand names (the names given by the manufacturers). Medicines are described under the following symptoms:

· Medicines for infections:

- antibiotics

· Medicines for fever:

- aspirin
- paracetamol

· Medicines for diarrhoea:

Acute

- oral rehydration salts
- antibiotics

Persistent

- adsorbents
- antimotility medicines

· Medicines for skin problems:

General

- calamine lotion

Bacterial infections

- gentian violet
- potassium permanganate
- hydrogen peroxide

Yeast infections (oral and vaginal)

- gentian violet
- ketoconazole
- nystatin
- clotrimazole
- potassium permanganate

· Medicines for nutrition problems:

- vitamin and mineral supplements

· Medicines for nausea and vomiting:

- anti-emetics

· Medicines for pain:

- aspirin
- paracetamol
- narcotic painkillers

· Medicines for tuberculosis:

- streptomycin
- isoniazid
- ethambutol
- thiacetazone
- rifampicin
- pyrazinamide

Medicines for infections

Antibiotics - a general guide

Almost every person with AIDS will be given an antibiotic at some point during his or her illness to fight an infection.

When used correctly antibiotics are extremely useful and important medicines. They fight certain infections and diseases caused by bacteria. Well-known antibiotics are penicillin, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole and chloramphenicol. The sulfonamides have a similar effect and are also considered here. It should be noted that medicines containing sulfonamides can cause severe allergic reactions in people with AIDS, such as unusual itching or widespread rashes.

Different antibiotics work in different ways against specific infections. All antibiotics have dangers in their use, but some are far more dangerous than others. Great care must be taken in the choice and use of antibiotics:

· People should never take an antibiotic unless it has been prescribed by a health care worker for a specific reason. Left-over antibiotics should not be used to treat a new infection.

· People must continue to use the antibiotics they have been prescribed for the full length of time they are told. Some illnesses, like tuberculosis, need to be treated for many months or years after the person feels better.

· If the antibiotic causes a skin rash, itching, difficulty in breathing, or any other reaction, people should stop using it and immediately contact a health care worker. If these reactions do occur people should always mention this to the health care worker who prescribes medicine for them. People should be encouraged to remember the name of any medicine they have a bad reaction to so that they can tell a health care worker in the future.

· The antibiotic should only be used at the recommended dose - no more, no less. You should explain to people that the dose depends on the illness and on their age or weight, and that increasing or decreasing the dose can be harmful, or can make the medicine useless.

· Antibiotics can kill bacteria. However, not all bacteria are harmful and antibiotics often kill good bacteria along with the harmful ones. For example, people with AIDS given antibiotics often develop fungal infections of the mouth (thrush - see the section on "Mouth and throat problems" in Chapter Five), skin or vagina (see the section on "Genital problems" in Chapter Five). This is because the antibiotics kill the bacteria that help keep the fungus under control in the body. Similarly, certain antibiotics may lead to diarrhoea - the antibiotics kill some of the bacteria necessary for digestion, upsetting the natural balance of bacteria in the intestines.

· When antibiotics are used incorrectly, they become less effective. When attacked many times by the same antibiotic, bacteria become stronger and are no longer killed by it. They become resistant to the antibiotic. For this reason, certain diseases like tuberculosis can become more difficult to treat over time if the antibiotics for them are not used in the right way.

Medicines for fever

These include aspirin and paracetamol. The recommended doses for these medicines are given in the section on medicines for pain in this chapter.

Medicines for diarrhoea

Treatment of acute diarrhoea

Oral rehydration salts (ORS). For diarrhoea with no blood in the stools, no specific medicines are needed. An oral rehydration solution made with ORS is the best means of preventing dehydration resulting from diarrhoea. See the section on "Diarrhoea" in Chapter Five for instructions on how to prepare ORS solution.

Antibiotics are effective against only some of the diarrhoea-causing organisms. When they are effective their benefit should be seen after 2 days and the medicine should be continued as prescribed. If not effective, the person should be advised to seek additional care. Prolonged or frequent use of antibiotics may increase the resistance of some disease-causing organisms to antibiotics. Also, antibiotics are costly, and should only be used when most effective. Therefore, antibiotics should not be used routinely. They may be appropriate for the treatment of dysentery, cholera, and some infections common in people with AIDS, but this should be determined by a health care worker.

Treatment of persistent diarrhoea

Relieving the symptoms of persistent diarrhoea, especially in people with AIDS, can be a difficult task. The diarrhoea does not usually have a known cause and when it begins to interfere with normal activity, eating, or is very emotionally burdensome, a health care worker may prescribe specific medicines. In addition to ORS, the medicines most commonly used are:

· Adsorbents, such as kaolin, pectin and activated charcoal.

· Antimotility medicines, such as tincture of opium, loperamide and diphenoxylate.

These can be dangerous when used in children less than 5 years of age, and should not be used in this age group. In adults these medicines may temporarily reduce cramps and pain, but may also delay elimination of the organisms causing the diarrhoea, and therefore prolong the illness. When used by adults, directions should be given carefully to avoid overdosage. Possible side-effects include:

- dryness of the mouth
- sleepiness
- loss of coordination
- blurred vision
- a gaseous distended abdomen.

Medicines for skin problems

General

Calamine lotion may be rubbed on the skin to soothe itching or irritation. It should never be taken by mouth.

Bacterial infections

Gentian violet comes as a ready-made solution or as dark blue crystals that should be mixed with clean water to make a solution. To use the crystals, people need to dissolve one teaspoonful in half a litre of water. This medicine helps fight certain skin infections, and has many uses.

Potassium permanganate comes as dark red crystals. It makes a good antiseptic (bacteria-killing) solution for soaking infected sores. A pinch of the crystals should be added to one litre of clean water or one teaspoonful in a four to five litre bucket of water for soaking infected sores.

Hydrogen peroxide comes as a liquid. It should be kept in a dark bottle, as the light destroys its effect. This medicine helps to clean deeply infected wounds on the skin.

Oral yeast infections (thrush)

Before using home remedies or medicines prescribed by a health care worker, a person should try cleaning the mouth with a soft toothbrush and then rinsing with salt water or lemon juice. Next, people can use gentian violet or potassium permanganate. See the section on "Mouth and throat problems" in Chapter Five.

The medicines most commonly prescribed by a health care worker for treatment of oral fungal infections are antifungal agents such as nystatin or clotrimazole. A solution or suspension should be held in the mouth for at least one minute and then swallowed. Lozenges should be sucked in the mouth until dissolved. It may be necessary to take these medicines three or four times a day.

In some people, the thrush involves not only the mouth but the entire esophagus, causing pain on swallowing and a burning sensation in the chest. Treatment for this can be provided by a health care worker and includes antifungal medicines such as ketoconazole which is taken by mouth every 12 hours for 14 days.

Vaginal yeast infections

Antifungal agents (creams or suppositories) may be prescribed to cure vaginal yeast infections. These should be used once or twice a day for 5-7 days. It may help to line underclothes with cotton cloth of some sort since the medicine will drain from the vagina.

Medicines for nutrition problems

Vitamin and mineral supplements come in many forms, but tablets are usually cheapest and work well. Injections of vitamins are rarely necessary, are a waste of money, cause unnecessary pain, and sometimes cause abscesses. Tonics and elixirs often do not contain the most important vitamins and are usually too expensive for the good they do. Nutritious food is the best source of vitamins and minerals. If additional vitamins and minerals are needed, tablets can be used but people should make sure the tablets contain the important vitamins and minerals they need.

With standard "multivitamin" tablets (tablets that contain several different vitamins), one tablet each day is usually enough. Vitamins should be taken with, or soon after, meals. In addition, pregnant women need extra amounts of iron and folic add.

Medicines for nausea and vomiting

Round-the-clock treatment with medicines for nausea and vomiting (anti-emetics) may become necessary if these symptoms become a big problem. They should only be taken on the advice of a health care worker. Some have serious side-effects, for example:

· nervous system effects with trembling or inability to control the movements of the neck or eyes

· fatigue, sleepiness and possibly depression; people taking anti-emetics should therefore not drive or operate machinery.

Medicines for pain

Aspirin can be useful to reduce pain, to lower fever, and to reduce inflammation. It may also help to calm a cough and reduce itching. Aspirin usually comes in tablets of 300-500 mg and should be given to adults at least every eight hours (or two to three times per day). For someone suffering from severe joint pains a higher dose may be recommended.

Aspirin should not be used by people who have indigestion or heartburn because it can make these problems much worse. In some people, aspirin causes stomach upsets. To avoid this, aspirin can be taken with milk, some bicarbonate of soda, a lot of water, or with meals. If ringing in the ears is experienced, this is a sign that the amount of aspirin which is being taking should be lowered. Aspirin must be kept out of reach of children as large amounts can poison them.

Paracetamol is used for many of the same problems as aspirin, such as pain and fever. However, it is safer for children and does not cause stomach problems, such as ulcers, so it can be used instead of aspirin if such problems are experienced. Paracetamol, rather than aspirin, should be given to children.

Paracetamol usually comes in tablets of 500 mg and should be given at least every eight hours (or two to three times per day) as follows:

· adults: 1 or 2 tablets (500-1000 mg)
· children 8-12 years: 1 tablet (500 mg)
· children 3-7 years: half a tablet (250 mg)
· children 6 months-2 years: quarter of a tablet (125 mg)
· babies under 6 months: one eighth of a tablet (62 mg).

Narcotic painkillers, such as codeine and morphine, may be prescribed by a health care worker and are used only for severe pain. These medicines are addictive, which means that if someone continues to take them they may need increasingly higher doses to get the same therapeutic effect, and may find that they crave for them at times when they are not having pain. Other side-effects that may be troublesome include nausea, drowsiness, constipation, depression, fatigue and itching. Make sure that people are advised to take extra fluids to prevent constipation if they are taking such medicines. If people are taking this type of medicine make sure they follow the directions carefully and do not drive or operate machinery.

Medicines for tuberculosis

Almost all countries in the world have guidelines or standard treatment protocols which they use in the treatment of tuberculosis, you should follow your country's standard treatments. This section describes the most common medicines used in the treatment of tuberculosis. At least two medicines to treat tuberculosis should always be given at the same time. This section is meant to supplement the information given in Chapter Six on tuberculosis and you should refer back to that section. The most important points about the treatment of tuberculosis are shown in the box below.

Streptomycin is given by injection. It is an important medicine for treating tuberculosis; however, it should always be used in combination with other medicines. In some places it is being used less often because there are other medicines that can be used in its place and because there is a risk of HIV and hepatitis transmission if the needles or syringes used to inject the medicine are not sterilized adequately.

The dose depends on age, weight and the severity of the tuberculosis. Treatment regimes can vary from country to country depending on the national policies adopted - for example, in some places one injection is given each day for two months, in others injections may be given two or three times a week for two months.

Great care must be taken not to give more than the correct dose. Too much streptomycin for too long may cause ringing in the ears or dizziness, particularly in people aged 50 years or more. If either of these symptoms occur, people should return immediately to the health care worker who prescribed the medicine.

Streptomycin is not suitable for use in pregnant women because it can cause hearing and kidney problems in the unborn baby. It is also unsuitable for children since they develop the side-effects more often and do not tolerate the painful injections well.

Isoniazid comes in tablet form and should be taken before the morning meal. Tablets should be stored out of direct sunlight.

Isoniazid occasionally causes liver problems. If this happens people will notice itching and the white part of their eyes turn yellow. They should return immediately to the health care worker who prescribed this medicine. In rare cases, the medicine causes anaemia, nerve pains in the hands and feet, muscle twitching or even fits. These side-effects can usually be prevented by taking a tablet of vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) every day.

Isoniazid is usually given for a long period of time, for example six months to one year, until the tuberculosis is considered completely cured.

This medicine is safe to use during pregnancy.

Ethambutol comes in tablet form.

It may cause eye problems if taken in large doses for a long time. If people notice that their eyesight seems worse, with blurring of vision or colour blindness, they should return to the health care worker who prescribed this medicine.

It is usually given once a day for two to twelve months.

Ethambutol is not advised for use in children less than six years old.

Thiacetazone often comes in tablet form and is always given in a combined form, usually mixed with isoniazid in a tablet called "thiazina".

Side-effects occur fairly frequently and include reddening of the eyes, unusual itching, widespread rashes, vomiting, dizziness and loss of appetite. In people with AIDS these reactions can be very severe. If people who are taking this medicine begin to have these types of problems they should stop taking the medicine and return immediately to the health care worker who prescribed it. In many countries this medicine is no longer used for people with AIDS because the side-effects occur so frequently in such people.

Thiacetazone is usually given once a day, for between 6 months and one year.

Rifampicin comes as single tablets of 150-300 mg or in a combined form, mixed with isoniazid, as tablets that contain 150-300 mg of rifampicin and 100-150 mg of isoniazid.

Rifampicin should be taken on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before the morning meal, since food interferes with the absorption of the medicine. It should be stored out of direct sunlight and in a dry place.

Rifampicin can be used in pregnancy.

Side-effects are not very common. This medicine may cause liver problems which can cause the white part of the eye to turn yellow. If this happens the person should return immediately to the health care worker who prescribed the medicine.

Rifampicin is likely to stain urine, tears, saliva, faeces and other body fluids an orange colour. If people notice this discoloration, they should not stop taking the medicine, as it is a normal reaction and is completely harmless.

Occasionally the medicine may cause flushing, itching, rash, fever or flu-like symptoms. If people experience any of these problems, they should discuss them with their health care worker.

Pyrazinamide comes in tablet form and should be taken in the morning with or without food.

Pyrazinamide is safe to take during pregnancy.

The most common side-effect of this medicine is joint pains. These pains tend to occur in the shoulders and are relieved by mild pain medicines. The pain usually goes away within a short period of time. This medicine may also cause liver problems which makes the white part of the eye turn yellow. If this happens the patient should return to the health centre or hospital immediately.

· Tuberculosis is curable if medicines are taken as prescribed. · If medicines are stopped early, individuals get sick again and become Infectious to others. · If medicines are taken as prescribed, individuals become completely non-infectious to others.

Notes on the use of medicines
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