RICHARD ELION, MD: Some of the general side effects of the NRTIs are, in combination with proteases, they seem to cause some changes in body composition, lipoatrophy and lipodeposition. In other words, the loss of fat and the deposition of fat. There are also some specific side effects -- anemia, some weakness of muscles, some neuropathy, some pancreatitis that's been associated with some of them, and those make up the majority of the side effects.
ANQUOINETTE CROSBY: Dr. Boyle, can you tell us how the side effects have interfered with your patients' adherence to treatments?
BRIAN BOYLE, MD: The side effects patients commonly encounter vary a lot, depending on which particular medications they're on. For example, AZT, also known as Retrovir, may have a lot of fatigue, may have some muscle aches, headaches and other symptoms. So I think that to say overall which side effects patients are going to have with antiretrovirals is relatively difficult, because it's going to vary a lot depending upon the individual medication, depending on how the medications are put together, and depending on the individual patient. Different patients have different side effects, depending upon the medications that they're on.
ANQUOINETTE CROSBY: Dr. Elion, why are the side effects of these medications so important?
