Anti Aids Pill That Can Be Taken Before Sex

[taxexile]

Anti-AIDS pill that can be taken before sex under development

Scientists are developing an anti-AIDS pill that can be taken before sex and prevent transmission of the deadly disease.

By Tom Peterkin

Last Updated: 9:12AM BST 06 Aug 2008

The successful development of such a treatment would be controversial because it raises ethical questions about the circumstances in which the pill should be taken.

Experts in the disease, which claimed two million lives last year, are involved in scientific trials on antiretroviral drugs that already used to prevent transmission of AIDS from infected mothers to their babies during birth.

Scientists are hopeful that similar protection can be offered during sex.

Three trials of antiretroviral drugs are underway around the world. A report published in the Lancet claims they are "showing great promise" as experts meet in Mexico City for the International Conference on AIDS.

More research has to be done on the side-effects of the pill and the development of resistant strains of HIV before it is made available.

Controversy is bound to arise over who should take the pill and for what reasons. Globally, use would probably have to be restricted to those at greatest risk from AIDS such as sex workers or injecting drug users.

The pill could also have a major impact on the lifestyles at a time when experts have observed that promiscuity is on the rise.

"The party scene involving multiple sexual partners is definitely back in London and probably in most European cities," said Sheena MCormack, a specialist in HIV prevention and reader in clinical epidemiology at Imperial College London, said.

"There is metrosexual mixing involving gay, bisexual and some heterosexual cases. We estimate new HIV infections in gay men are running at three per cent a year."

She added: "People could pop a pill on a Friday night and be covered for a whole weekend."

The trials involve 2,400 drug injectors in Thailand, 1,200 heterosexual men and women in Botswana and 3,000 homosexual men in America, Africa and Asia.

Experiments on primates suggest that the drugs are effective and can prevent the disease being passed. But their success in humans has yet to be proved, the Lancet report by Nancy Padian of Women's Global Heath Imperative, San Francisco, said.

The trials use tenofovir, a drug currently used to treat AIDS, with a combination of other drugs.

[roygsd]

Anti-AIDS pill that can be taken before sex under development

Scientists are developing an anti-AIDS pill that can be taken before sex and prevent transmission of the deadly disease.

By Tom Peterkin

Last Updated: 9:12AM BST 06 Aug 2008

The successful development of such a treatment would be controversial because it raises ethical questions about the circumstances in which the pill should be taken.

Experts in the disease, which claimed two million lives last year, are involved in scientific trials on antiretroviral drugs that already used to prevent transmission of AIDS from infected mothers to their babies during birth.

Scientists are hopeful that similar protection can be offered during sex.

Three trials of antiretroviral drugs are underway around the world. A report published in the Lancet claims they are "showing great promise" as experts meet in Mexico City for the International Conference on AIDS.

More research has to be done on the side-effects of the pill and the development of resistant strains of HIV before it is made available.

Controversy is bound to arise over who should take the pill and for what reasons. Globally, use would probably have to be restricted to those at greatest risk from AIDS such as sex workers or injecting drug users.

The pill could also have a major impact on the lifestyles at a time when experts have observed that promiscuity is on the rise.

"The party scene involving multiple sexual partners is definitely back in London and probably in most European cities," said Sheena MCormack, a specialist in HIV prevention and reader in clinical epidemiology at Imperial College London, said.

"There is metrosexual mixing involving gay, bisexual and some heterosexual cases. We estimate new HIV infections in gay men are running at three per cent a year."

She added: "People could pop a pill on a Friday night and be covered for a whole weekend."

The trials involve 2,400 drug injectors in Thailand, 1,200 heterosexual men and women in Botswana and 3,000 homosexual men in America, Africa and Asia.

Experiments on primates suggest that the drugs are effective and can prevent the disease being passed. But their success in humans has yet to be proved, the Lancet report by Nancy Padian of Women's Global Heath Imperative, San Francisco, said.

The trials use tenofovir, a drug currently used to treat AIDS, with a combination of other drugs.

A bit flipant I know but an asprin held tightly between the knees might work just as well,

roy gsd

[OxfordWill]

Interesting, thanks for posting

[issanpaul]

I thought it was already available here ? Post Exposure Prophylaxis ? or is this trial different drug capsule ?

[issanpaul]

I Want to know as my freind is HIV positive and can pass on the information to him and his wife.

[Jingthing]

I Want to know as my freind is HIV positive and can pass on the information to him and his wife.

You would have to be in the test study to get the exact med they are trying out.

If your friend has a condom breakage event with his partner, they can indeed rush to the hospital to get the post exposure treatment, and it is effective. I am pretty sure it is available here, somebody else can confirm. There is no proof yet about the effectiveness of a pre-sex pill.

[issanpaul]

I Want to know as my freind is HIV positive and can pass on the information to him and his wife.

You would have to be in the test study to get the exact med they are trying out.

If your friend has a condom breakage event with his partner, they can indeed rush to the hospital to get the post exposure treatment, and it is effective. I am pretty sure it is available here, somebody else can confirm. There is no proof yet about the effectiveness of a pre-sex pill.

Thanks Jingthing,yes this what happened to him yesterday,a condom breakage , well not so much breakage it came off during intercourse and both parties were not aware at the time until sex was finished.

[Jingthing]

It is called PEP: Post exposure prophylaxis. You have only 72 hours from exposure to begin treatment.

HIV

In the case of HIV infection, post-exposure prophylaxis is a course of antiretroviral drugs which is thought to reduce the risk of seroconversion after events with high risk of exposure to HIV (e.g., unprotected anal or vaginal sex, needlestick injuries, or sharing needles).

To be effective, treatment should begin within an hour[2] of possible infection, and no longer than 72 hours post-exposure.[citation needed] Prophylactic treatment for HIV typically lasts four weeks.[3]

While there is compelling data to suggest that PEP after HIV exposure is effective, there have been cases where it has failed. Failure has often been attributed to the delay in receiving treatment, the level of exposure (i.e., the viral load received), or both. However, for non-occupational exposures, the time and level of exposure are based on patient-supplied information; absolute data is therefore unavailable. PEP can also slow down the development of antibodies, potentially causing false negatives on a later HIV test. Doctors will advise patients who received PEP to get a test at 6 months post-exposude as well as the standard 3 month test. PEP didn't delay seroconversion in any occasion so far. With the evolution in Laboratory Testing a 3 months tests will be sufficient but for legal purposes a final 6 months test will be Conclusive and definitive.

The antiretroviral regimen used in PEP (see highly active antiretroviral therapy) requires close compliance and can have unpleasant side effects including malaise, fatigue, diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting.[3] Pleasant side effects have been reported within the first 4 days of treatment which mimic anti-depressant properties, however these are rare and none of these effects are known to have been reported past this period.[citation needed]

[nidhogg]

I thought it was already available here ? Post Exposure Prophylaxis ? or is this trial different drug capsule ?

The article in the original post is discussing *pre* - exposure prophylaxis - i.e. taking the drug before sex with a partner of doubtful status....

[issanpaul]

It is called PEP: Post exposure prophylaxis. You have only 72 hours from exposure to begin treatment.

HIV

In the case of HIV infection, post-exposure prophylaxis is a course of antiretroviral drugs which is thought to reduce the risk of seroconversion after events with high risk of exposure to HIV (e.g., unprotected anal or vaginal sex, needlestick injuries, or sharing needles).

To be effective, treatment should begin within an hour[2] of possible infection, and no longer than 72 hours post-exposure.[citation needed] Prophylactic treatment for HIV typically lasts four weeks.[3]

While there is compelling data to suggest that PEP after HIV exposure is effective, there have been cases where it has failed. Failure has often been attributed to the delay in receiving treatment, the level of exposure (i.e., the viral load received), or both. However, for non-occupational exposures, the time and level of exposure are based on patient-supplied information; absolute data is therefore unavailable. PEP can also slow down the development of antibodies, potentially causing false negatives on a later HIV test. Doctors will advise patients who received PEP to get a test at 6 months post-exposude as well as the standard 3 month test. PEP didn't delay seroconversion in any occasion so far. With the evolution in Laboratory Testing a 3 months tests will be sufficient but for legal purposes a final 6 months test will be Conclusive and definitive.

The antiretroviral regimen used in PEP (see highly active antiretroviral therapy) requires close compliance and can have unpleasant side effects including malaise, fatigue, diarrhea, headache, nausea and vomiting.[3] Pleasant side effects have been reported within the first 4 days of treatment which mimic anti-depressant properties, however these are rare and none of these effects are known to have been reported past this period.[citation needed]

so 72 hors is fine, where can he get this ? Pharmacy or Hospital?

[Shotime]

Can you take them with viagra?

[issanpaul]

Can you take them with viagra?

This is a serious thread

[wasabi]

If this works it would create a sexual revolution.

[Jingthing]

Best call the ER of the best local hospital. Please can someone confirm that PEP is available in Thailand. I have a friend who did it in the US after getting an accidental needle from an HIV infected man he was providing care for. He had to take the meds for a long time and it was very expensive (thousands of dollars). It worked in the sense that he didn't get infected, but that doesn't prove he would have got infected if he hadn't done the PEP protocol.

Edited August 6, 2008 by Jingthing

[mommysboy]

Best call the ER of the best local hospital. Please can someone confirm that PEP is available in Thailand. I have a friend who did it in the US after getting an accidental needle from an HIV infected man he was providing care for. He had to take the meds for a long time and it was very expensive (thousands of dollars). It worked in the sense that he didn't get infected, but that doesn't prove he would have got infected if he hadn't done the PEP protocol.

These are heavyweight drugs. You don't just pop one and then go out and have unprotected sex.

[slimdog]

Best call the ER of the best local hospital. Please can someone confirm that PEP is available in Thailand. I have a friend who did it in the US after getting an accidental needle from an HIV infected man he was providing care for. He had to take the meds for a long time and it was very expensive (thousands of dollars). It worked in the sense that he didn't get infected, but that doesn't prove he would have got infected if he hadn't done the PEP protocol.

These are heavyweight drugs. You don't just pop one and then go out and have unprotected sex.

Very well put..

Whilst PEP is available, they are strictly prescribed, generally to hospital workers, although if a long term partner was involved then a doctor might be persuaded. I am not to sure of any new drugs available, certainly combid 300 is classified as a PEP, although this would be taken for a period of about 28 days, I guess that a combination Viread/Lamivudine would probably have a similar PEP effect, although almost certainly for a similar period. It should also be noted that any current PEP treatment will come with the possibility of serious side effects, including toxity, pancreatitus, nausea, diarrhea, kidney stones etc. There have also been cases when even after taking a course of prescibed PEP, medical workers exposed to the virus still went on to test possitive for hiv...

[Jingthing]

Best call the ER of the best local hospital. Please can someone confirm that PEP is available in Thailand. I have a friend who did it in the US after getting an accidental needle from an HIV infected man he was providing care for. He had to take the meds for a long time and it was very expensive (thousands of dollars). It worked in the sense that he didn't get infected, but that doesn't prove he would have got infected if he hadn't done the PEP protocol.

These are heavyweight drugs. You don't just pop one and then go out and have unprotected sex.

Indeed, and I never said or implied that about PEP.

[mommysboy]

Best call the ER of the best local hospital. Please can someone confirm that PEP is available in Thailand. I have a friend who did it in the US after getting an accidental needle from an HIV infected man he was providing care for. He had to take the meds for a long time and it was very expensive (thousands of dollars). It worked in the sense that he didn't get infected, but that doesn't prove he would have got infected if he hadn't done the PEP protocol.

These are heavyweight drugs. You don't just pop one and then go out and have unprotected sex.

Indeed, and I never said or implied that about PEP.

Yes, sorry, I must have replied to the wrong posting, so sorry.

[Sheryl]

It is called PEP: Post exposure prophylaxis. You have only 72 hours from exposure to begin treatment.

so 72 hors is fine, where can he get this ? Pharmacy or Hospital?

'

PEP is available in Thailand, any physician who treates HIv can prescribe it. Generally done for occupational; exposure (healtgh personnel/needle sticks etc) and for victims of rape, but can be considered in a case such as that described (partner known to be positive and condom broke).

Although recommended to start within 72 hours (and the sooner the better), it is not actually known up to what time PEP is still beneficial.

It involves taking a cocktail of anti-retroovirals for about 6 weeks.

Would have to be gotten from a doctor specializing in HIV, suggest the doctor who is treating the husband. Or try one of the physicians listed on the pinned notice.

Incidentally, your friend's wife's risk will depend on his viral count. If he has been under treatment with HAART for some time and his viral count is very low her risk from this one exposure is low. recent research indicates that in cases of people whose viral loads are non-detectrable (which current tretament ioften does achieve), the risk is essentially nil. But this is only for non-detectable viral loads.