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mark beauchamp
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ban the drug zerit...
#2613 - 04/05/00 10:28 AM
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I was prescribed the drug Zerit by Bristol Myers Squibb by my physcian
back in June 1998 after being on the drug for 2 months I have developed
a severe side effect called peripheral neuropathy. I ended up in the
emergency room not knowing what was wrong with my feet, I was told I
have neuropathy in my feet. This condition causes severe pain and
numbness in my feet. I was told to cease taking the drug Zerit. And to this
day after being off Zerit my condition has not cleared up. I live with
severe pain and suffering, unable to sleep due to the severe pain in my
feet. If anyone is on this drug BEWARE of the possible side effects. It is
hard enough living with AIDS/HIV, but when you are given a drug that
causes unbearable side effects it just makes our condition that much
worse. This drug should be banned and taken off the market and Bristol
Myers Squibb should compensate individuals for there pain and
suffering. These drug companys need to have compassion and STOP
PUTTING PROFITS BEFORE PEOPLES WELL BEING!!!!!! If
anybody would like to talk to me about my experience with ZERIT email
me
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I am saddened to hear that you are suffering on account of Zerit, and
please know that my prayers are with you. However, not everyone
has these side effects. I have been taking Zerit for over a year now
and have experienced no ill side effects. Perhaps the side effect
was heightened by other medications you are taking. I am on a
regimine of Zerit, Viramune, and Epivir...and have been doing
beautifully for over a year now. My viral load is undetectable, and
my CD4's have gone from 223 to over 500. I am thankful for my
"drug combination."
Again, I am truly sorry to hear that you are suffering at the hands of
Zerit, but before you go calling for a ban please think of those of us
who it is helping with little or no side effects.
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I echo Carl's sentiments. I am saddened at your plight, but I, like
Carl, have been taking Zerit (with Epivir and Crixivan) for over a
year with little or no problems.
I look to the AIDS community, who calls strenuously for the FDA to
approve drugs for AIDS treatment faster than the FDA would
normally approve a drug, and I have to think that we should expect
certain ill effects because of this. Drug/chemical side effects
sometimes don't occur for years after thier use (think of DDT). So
we either wait for the FDA to do their thing, which would takes
years as people die, or we experience problems as we use the
drugs that may keep us alive.
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JP,
Thanks for supporting me on this. I live in Florida and it seems
every time I turn around someone, somewhere is having side effects
to their meds. I guess that I am one of the lucky ones...I've had no
side effects thus far. Again thanks.
Carl
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kje in florida
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Iam having all kinds of side effects and I do not know what to do.
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Have you discussed these side effects with your doctor? Many
and holistic approaches. Again, I am one of the lucky ones...I have
no side effects from my meds.
Carl
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Sorry to hear about your bad experience.I was on Zerit for three
years and nine months.Shortly after starting the drug,periphrial
neurophaty set in.Although the pain was not as severe as yours
seems to be,my docter explained the possible risks before
treatment.I obviously chose to take Zerit anyway.About six months
into treatment the pain and numbing tingling occured. At this point
my doc started me on a mild pain killer (TYLENOL 3 ) four months
later (DARVOCET) three months later
(M.S.CONTIN)i.e.MORPHINE SULFATE (go figure).Since ,now
for about two years he(doc) has increased my doseage from 15mg
once daily to 15 mg every 12 hours.It really works and is
supposedly not as addictive as per say-Hydrocodone.And is not
nearly as toxic on our best friend (THE LIVER).I have one friend
on Zerit and in six months his pain was so bad he could'nt
walk.Now he is on 60mg of M.S. Contin three times a day PLUS
30mg of immediate release MORPHINE SULFATE as neededfor
break-through pain.(He literally lost his shoes one day coming in
his apt. bldg. and did'nt realize it till he was up two flights of
stairs.This was before he had pain meds.My suggestion to you is if
your still in pain, suggest to your doctor about M.S.Contin
(PURDUE-FREDRICK PHARMA.) IT WORKS REALLY WELL
FOR ME AND IT IS TIME RELEASED SO ONE DOSE EVERY
12 HOURS KEEPS ME PAIN FREE!!!!!! Hope this helps. I also
agree with the other replies that one drug is good for some and bad
for others. Maybe one day PLWA will look back and thank us for
being their guinny pigs.GOOD LUCK!!!
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Thanks for the advice...I will ask my doctor about it. I too am on
zerit and have had the pain and numbness in my feet. At first he put
me on advil which worked for a few weeks, but now the pain is
back and the advil doesn't have any effect. Will ask about the M.S.
Contin.
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Zerit is evil! I did not know anything about neuropathies before
taking this medicine. In fact, I knew so little that I did not even
know I was having a neuropathy problem prior to any therapies.
The pain I was experiencing already was taken to new levels of
discomfort after only two months on the poison. In ignorance, I
continued ingesting them twice a day for another month. I have now
been freed from taking zerit for two months and the pain is only
getting worse. A PWA really needs to become a medical expert on
their condition to avoid such mistakes, as the one I made by not
knowing all avenues of living with HIV/AIDS.
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I am very sorry that you have had to suffer through some of the more debilitating side
effects that Zerit can produce. What you need to understand is your side effects are
specific to you. Everyone responds differently to the meds they are taking. I have been
on Zerit as a part of my triple therapy and I have had wonderful results. I did experience
some slight neuropathy in my hands that subsided as quickly as it began. The drugs that
Doctors prescribe to people living with HIV are very powerful and come with many
possible side effects that have to be dealt with if they arise. What you need to decide is
how much the benefits of the medication outweigh the possibility of side effects. Calling
for a ban on any particular drug is simply irresponsible. YOUR side effects are yours and
not necessarily a good indication of what others may experience. Think about the people
that are trying to decide if they want to take the drugs that can improve the quality of their
lives and what your article might do to dissuade them from embarking on the road to
health.
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who are taking Zerit as part of our regiment and are expierencing absolutely no side
effects? I'm sorry that you had those side effects, but don't agree with your premise that
the drug ahould be removed from the market. I attained an undetectable viral load under
one regiment, and subsequently switched to a regiment that contained Zerit. This was in
Janurary of 1998. Over the past year of taking Zerit, I have had absolutely no side
effects, and my viral load remains undetectable. If the drug were to be removed, I, as
well as others for whom this drug may be working, would face the dilemma of lessening
the availabe arsenal of drugs. Some of which may not be compatible for us.
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" Hey I started taking Zerit after being on combivir which made
me anemic feeling like a zombie. I was also on Viracept at that
time which gave me perpetual diarrhea(what fun!). Now i'm on a
regimen that includes zerit and sustiva and I feel great with
excellent results. Everybody seems to be adversely affected by
one of these daily popped duzzies. In a way we are all being put
under the microscope seeing what else may develope after being on
these drugs for longer periods of time. THE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. MIKE
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I was on Videx and Zerit (as well as Viracept) for over a year and developed early neuropathy in my feet. Both Videx and Zerit are known to have a possible side effect of neuropathy in some people, but not all. My doctor changed my meds to Viracept and Combivir in early Feb. and the neuropathy has slowly begun to fade. I also started taking very high doses of vitamin B complex, which is said to help; though there is no scientific research to back that up (but it can't hurt). Also, YOU have to be very aggressive with your doctor and make sure that he is looking after YOUR health. If one drug regimen is not working try another, until you find one that keeps your viral load down, your t-cells up and has minimal side effects that you can live with.
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princealbert
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Fanatic
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Reged: 05/21/00
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Posts: 52
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Loc: New York City
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If you are having side effects and don't know what to do, I assume your doctor is of little or no help. Can you change doctors?
Otherwise, see a holistic practitioner familiar with AIDS and AIDS meds. A really good one will have ideas on how to cope with the meds we all take. Good luck.
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