Path: utzoo!utgpu!watmath!att!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!wasatch!cs.utexas.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ucla-cs!hplabs!karl@hpclkwp.hp.com From: hplabs!karl@hpclkwp.hp.com (Karl Pettis) Newsgroups: sci.med.aids Subject: Re: Re: (1114) Fansidar Message-ID: <26329@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> Date: 31 Jul 89 17:18:24 GMT References: <26079@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU> Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU Organization: Hewlett-Packard Calif. Language Lab Lines: 28 Approved: aids@cs.ucla.edu Archive-number: 1121 After my first bout with PCP, my doctor discussed several alternative prophylactic treatments with me and I chose to use Fansidar, primarily because it was simple and easy to use. After 15 months, I had a mild relapse of PCP. Now, it is not clear whether this should be counted as a success or failure of Fansidar. My doctor said that without prophylatic treatment, PCP often recurs within 3-5 months. So the 15 months may be a "success". On the other hand, I did have a relapse. So I am now on aerosol pentamadine, but it is too soon to tell if this will hold me longer than the Fansidar did. Unfortunately, these treatments are new enough that the relapse rates are not well known. But none of them seems overwhelmingly better than any of the others. I guess you takes your chances, no matter what you do. Do read the cautions about Fansidar that come with the medicine. I never had a problem with it and lots of people in malaria countries take it with no problem. But some people do develop a reaction. Unfortunately, it is erratic enough that you can have been taking it for some time with no problem and then suddenly react. If you start to have a rash, get to a doctor quickly. Good luck. - Karl Pettis