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
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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