Antiviral Strategies

Page 17 of 18
IN
Drug Side Effects
Fact Sheet

Drug Side
Effects

This chart should only be used as a guide to help identify possible drug-related side effects.
Some of these side effects have been reported in medical literature, others are anecdotal.
Not everyone taking a drug will experience side effects. Most side effects show up in only a
small percentage of those using a drug. Many people experience no obvious side effects,
while others experience several from the same drug.

The manufacturers label included with most prescriptions lists how
often different side effects have been seen in clinical trial participants.
Side effects may be affected by interactions with other drugs (See the
Drug Interactions Chart). A more extensive version of this chart, including laboratory abnormalities, is available by calling the Project Inform Treatment Hotline at 800-822-7422.
It's important to recognize that no drug should be evaluated solely based
on the number or type of side effects listed. Some drugs may have a
high number of side effects which are minor but affect a large percentage of users, others may have few or infrequent, but serious side effects. There is seldom any way to predict what side effects will occur for
an individual. Many responses listed as drug side effects also occur as a
consequence of HIV disease. It is often difficult to tell whether the disease or the drug is responsible. Sometimes, even the anticipation of a
particular side effect can influence how often it is reported; people receiving a placebo (harmless substances disguised to look and taste like
a drug) often report the same side effects as those receiving the real drug.

This guide should primarily be used to help identify the possible causes
of effects noted when using a drug. Often, the best way to determine
whether a drug is the cause is to temporarily stop using the drug.
However, this approach itself can have harmful consequences, such as
encouraging faster development of drug resistance. In many instances,
therefore, it may be useful to try to overcome a side effect rather than
withdraw the use of a drug, especially when there are few good alternatives to the drug in question. Suspected side effects, and compensating strategies, should always be discussed with your physician.
Using the Chart
The left hand column (vertical) lists all the side effects reported for
the combined list of drugs. The top row (horizontal) lists each of the
drugs most commonly used in HIV disease. The columns underneath
each drug heading lists the rough percentage of people reporting each
side effect for each drug. (Legend: "+++" means the side effect has
been reported in greater than 15% of people in clinical trials; "++" =
5-15%; "+" = less than 5%; NR = not reported).

Drug Effects on Laboratory Values*
AZT ddl ddC d4T 3TC SQV RTV IDV NFV NVP DLV AZI CLA RBT TS AP GCV(iv) FOS CDV FLU
Elevated
Alkaline NR + + NR NR NR + NR + NR + + + + NR NR + + + NR
Phosphatase
Elevated
Amylase NR +++ ++ ++ + + + + + NR + NR NR NR ++ NR NR + NR NR
Anemia +++ + ++ ++ + + + + + + + NR + NR ++ + +++ +++ +++ NR
Elevated
Bilirubin + + + + + + + ++ NR + + + NR NR + NR NR NR NR NR
Elevated
Creatinine NR ++ + NR NR ++ ++ NR ++ NR + + + NR + + +++ +++ +++ NR
Leukopenia +++ +++ ++ + NR NR + NR + NR NR + NR +++ + + +++ ++ NR +
Elevated
Liver +++ +++ ++ +++ + + ++ + + + ++ + + ++ +++ NR + + + +
Functions
Neutropenia +++ ++ +++ ++ ++ + + + + ++ ++ + NR +++ ++ + +++ ++ + +
Thrombocytopenia + + + + + + + + + + +- + + ++ + + + + + +
Elevated
Triglycerides NR +++ + NR NR NR +++ + + NR + NR NR NR NR NR NR NR NR +

SQV=saquinavir;
DLV=delavirdine;

RTV=ritonavir;
AZI=azithromycin;

IDV=indinavir;
CLA=clarithromycin;

NFV=nelfinavir;
RBT=rifabutin;

NVP=nevirapine;
TS=Bactrim/Septra;
FLU=fluconazole

AP=aerosol pentamidine; FOS=foscarnet; GCV(iv) =intravenous ganciclovir; CDV=
* For more information about lab values call the hotline and request the Diagnostics Fact Sheet.

cidofovir;

National Hotline [phone]
SF Area and International 415-558-9051 - Fax [phone]
Administrative Offices 415-558-8669 - Web Site http://www.projinf org
Copyright @ San Francisco Project inform 1997 - 1965 Market St., Suite 220, San Francisco, CA 94103