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Ask the Experts about Managing Side Effects of HIV Treatment
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Help with diarrhea
Jan 11, 2009

For the past year I have been having uncontrollable diarrhea, I mean water, not loose stools, but water. The only thing I can take to help control this is imodium. I drink the stuff like it is water. I was diagnosed as HIV in 1996, vl-7000 cd4-75, I have also been diagnosed as having MAC. I take clairythromycin, for the MAC, but can not take Ethambutol. Do you possibly have any suggestions? Anything will help.

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   Response from Dr. Henry

Effective control of both the MAC and HIV is recommended for baseline care. Severe diarrhea can vaariably be helped by anti diarreal drugs such as Immodium but sometimes stronger meds such as diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), paregoric (tincture ofopium), some narcotic agents, bulking agents, and aggressive fluid replacement. Looking for other contributing factors such as C difficile infection is encouraged. Some patients are helped by octreotide (Sandostatin) injections. KH



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