Years of swallowing "horse pills" are coming to an end for HIV positive men as Pharmac begins funding an improved version of an important HIV drug. The large, chalky pills containing the drug ddI have always been unpopular due to their size and unpalatability. Now a higher-tech version with a coating to to ensure the drug is released lower in the digestive system, is now being made available. A Body Positive spokesman says HIV positive people are pleased to have the new pills available, though he wishes they were available "several years ago" as they have been in other countries. He is hopeful the new form of the drug will enable HIV positive men to keep more easily to their drug regimes and to suffer fewer side-effects.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Sunday, 10th November 2002 - 12:00pm