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Positive Living October–November 2004

Cover Story

Triple treat

Positive Living article — Friday, 15 October 2004

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme] The federal government program which subsidises medication costs in Australia. Anti-HIV drugs are part of a special part of the PBS called Section 100 (S100) which is used for expensive, highly specialised drugs. has recently added three new antiretroviralsA medication or other substance which is active against retroviruses such as HIV., to become available on prescription in December. PAUL KIDD takes a look at the newest weapons in the anti-HIV armoury. read more »

Tags: atazanavir, enfuvirtide (T-20), fosamprenavir/amprenavir, HIV treatments, Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

News

Home-grown vaccine disappoints

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 15 October 2004

A preliminary analysis of an Australian-developed HIV vaccine has produced disappointing results and the likely cancellation of a planned second study. read more »

Time for action on poverty

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 15 October 2004

Charities and community welfare groups are calling on the federal government to urgently commit to a national anti-poverty plan. read more »

Leadership needed

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 15 October 2004

Australia must re-energise its response to HIV/AIDS, not just rest on its laurels as an early leader, the 2004 ASHMAustralasian Society for HIV Medicine. The peak Australasian organisation representing the medical and health sector in HIV/AIDS and related areas. Conference was told in October. read more »

Feature

Mouth watering

Positive Living article • David Menadue • 15 October 2004

DAVID MENADUE examines the importance of saliva and good oral hygiene for people with HIV. read more »

Brain bank hopes to beat dementia

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 15 October 2004

It’s one of the scariest prospects facing HIV-positive people. The possibility of developing AIDS-related dementia or other brain and central nervous system diseases fills many of us with justifiable fear. Like mental illness, brain disease strikes at the very core of who we are. read more »

In the future...

Positive Living article • Brent Allan • 15 October 2004

Since 1997, the HIV Futures reports have provided important insights into the experience of being positive in Australia, and the latest instalment in the series is about to be issued. BRENT ALLAN wonders what it all means. read more »

Baby on board

Positive Living article • Susan Paxton • 15 October 2004

Studies evaluating the cost-effectiveness(Of a drug or treatment). The maximum ability of a drug or treatment to produce a result regardless of dosage. A drug passes efficacy trials if it is effective at the dose tested and against the illness for which it is prescribed. In the standard procedure, Phase II clinical trials gauge efficacy, and Phase III trials confirm it. of antenatal HIV testing in Australia, published earlier this year, have reignited the debate about routine testing of pregnant women. But the experience of women in neighbouring countries shows that the woman’s privacy and confidentiality needs to be respected first. read more »

Regular

Positive Voices

Big Mauve Door

Positive Living article • Graham Douglas-Meyer • 15 October 2004

The registrar pops out of the room. Five minutes is an eternity when you are in a hospital treatment room and don’t know what’s happening on the other side of that big mauve door. read more »

Backgrounder

Monkey business

Positive Living article • Paul Kidd • 15 October 2004

When Kenyan ecologist Wangari Maathai, winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize, claimed in early October that HIV was “created by a scientist for biological warfare,” she weighed into a debate that has been raging since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. read more »

Complementary Therapies

Worn out?

Positive Living article • Jim Arachne • 15 October 2004

Fatigue is a common problem among people with HIV. A 2003 American survey of 13,768 people with HIV found that 37 percent had fatigue “that was the primary reason for a medical visit,” was persistent or was severe enough to stop them from working. read more »

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Positive Living is NAPWA's national HIV treatments publication, published four times a year. More information.

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HIV Clinical Trials update

Recently updated entries from the NAPWA Clinical Trials database.

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