Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 64 826 720 at noon on October 19 2005
Researchers in the United States and Uganda are exploring the implications of allowing HIV-positive patients to take a break from their medications every weekend, a strategy that could reduce the cost of treating the disease and improve the quality of life for patients.
Doctors say patients who routinely miss doses of their medications risk developing a drug-resistant strain of HIV. The studies rely on the weekday-on, weekend-off schedule, geared to help patients remember when they should take their medications.
Researchers remain unsure whether two days off a week will significantly affect anti-retrovirals’ effectiveness or lessen their side effects. If the studies prove successful, intermittent therapy could save nearly 30% of the cost of treating one HIV-positive person.
Source: Kaiser Network