Answering a question about wasting and the use of hgh, you mentioned that you prefer other alternative treatments. Could you talk about them? Thanks

Wasting should probably be defined first because it can be a confusing topic.

AIDS-related wasting refers to loss of lean body mass usually related to an underlying opportunistic infection and can be life-threatening if left unchecked. We are not seeing this condition as much because of advances in treatment of HIV which prevent progression to AIDS.

What we see a lot of now is fat redistribution syndrome, especially with loss of subcutaneous fat. This fat loss, especially when in occurs in the face, makes people look gaunt and sick. It may also stigmatize them because many people in the community and elsewhere recognized this look.

For AIDS-related wasting my first priority is to diagnose the underlying condition that is causing the process to occur. Is there undiagnosed CMV (cytomegalovirus) or MAC (mycobacterium avium complex) infection or esophageal candidiasis? Is the person depressed or anxious and not eating because of an intensely stressful situation? Are they constantly nauseated from their HIV medications, but not realizing it?

Sometimes determining what the underlying process is and correcting it is all that it needed. If someone has esophageal thrush treated they will gain their weight and muscle back without any additional medications. However, if muscle wasting has gone along for a while androgenic steroids are useful. Testosterone for men and decadurabolin for men and women help regain muscle faster. Oxandrin is another androgenic steroid in pill form that works.

Marinol is also helpful for those with loss of appetite and Megace also has a role for some that need an appetite boost. Liquid supplements are sometimes needed for those that have trouble with meal preparation or tolerating solid food. Feeding tubes may be required in severe cases and sometimes intravenous feeding as well.

For facial fat loss we try to change the offending antiretroviral agent. This is often related to stavudine (Zerit) and less often to AZT (Retrovir). Over time, there is often slow improvement off the culprit medication. A variety of cosmetic procedures are available to those that can afford them facial implants, injection of different filling agents, and face lifts.

Hope this helps. GP