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Which nucleosides/nucleotide?
Anti-HIV treatment regimens almost always include two nucleoside/nucleotide analogues. It’s not really known which two provide the most effective combination. However, you shouldn’t take d4T in your first anti-HIV drug combination because of concerns about side-effects. There are also concerns about the possible side-effects of AZT and your doctor should discuss these, and the side-effects caused by all other drugs in the nucleoside/nucleotide class before you reach a decision about which drugs to take.
The nucleotide analogue tenofovir has been successfully used in initial combinations, and your doctor may be particularly likely to prescribe it if you are infected with hepatitis B virus as well as HIV, when it should be prescribed with 3TC or FTC which is also effective against hepatitis B. You should not take ddI and tenofovir together because the drugs interact unless you have no other options available to you.
In 2006 production of ddC will cease. very few people are taking ddC and those who are will be given the option of switching to another drug.
HIV medicine is evolving very quickly. You can get regular updates on HIV treatments and the best way to use them by visiting www.aidsmap.com. You can also get a free subscription to AIDS Treatment Update (ATU), NAM’s monthly treatments newsletter, by filling in the form at the back of this book and returning it to the freepost address.