My partner(pos & asymptomatic for 10 yrs)recently began taking Combivir and Viramune at his MD's recommendation. Is this a good beginning combination or should he have begun with a different combo? Thank you.

It is one of a number of perfectly reasonable choices with a good chance of success. In one study, ATLANTIC, a slightly different viramune based combo (d4t, ddI, nevirapine)is doing exactly as well as a crixivan based combo with experience now out over one year.

The best choice depends on the person - there is no standard therapy. Is the viral load relatively low (15,000-100,000), in which case most approaches work well. Are his T cells very low (say, under 100) in which case some prefer to go with combinations that have the most experience (ie the protease inhibitors). Is he very concerned about getting body shape changes or a high cholesterol, in which case viramune or sustiva may be better choices. Likewise, if the thought of diarrhea or lots of pills is hard to swallow (sorry) then the NNRTI's are a good choice.

More important than the actual combo is to take every pill on time, to get good followup and watch the T cells and viral load respond, to stay informed yourselves, and to have a good relationship with a provider who is an expert in HIV.

Best of lucl ATP