YOU MATTER AND SO DOES YOUR HEALTH That’s why starting and staying on HIV-1 treatment is so important.
What is DESCOVY ?
What are the other possible side effects of DESCOVY?
DESCOVY is a prescription medicine that is used together with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 [GCTU CPF QNFGT &'5%18; KU PQV HQT WUG VQ JGNR TGFWEG VJG TKUM QH IGVVKPI *+8 KPHGEVKQP &'5%18; EQODKPGU medicines into 1 pill taken once a day. Because DESCOVY D[ KVUGNH KU PQV C EQORNGVG VTGCVOGPV HQT *+8 KV OWUV DG used together with other HIV-1 medicines.
Serious side effects of DESCOVY may also include:
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DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 infection or AIDS. 6Q EQPVTQN *+8 KPHGEVKQP CPF FGETGCUG *+8 TGNCVGF illnesses, you must keep taking DESCOVY. Ask your JGCNVJECTG RTQXKFGT KH [QW JCXG SWGUVKQPU CDQWV JQY VQ TGFWEG VJG TKUM QH RCUUKPI *+8 VQ QVJGTU #NYC[U RTCEVKEG UCHGT UGZ CPF WUG EQPFQOU VQ NQYGT VJG EJCPEG QH UGZWCN EQPVCEV YKVJ DQF[ ƃ WKFU 0GXGT TGWUG QT UJCTG PGGFNGU QT QVJGT KVGOU VJCV JCXG DQF[ ƃ WKFU QP VJGO
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION What is the most important information I should know about DESCOVY? DESCOVY may cause serious side effects: •
•
•
•
Buildup of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is C UGTKQWU OGFKECN GOGTIGPE[ 5[ORVQOU QH NCEVKE CEKFQUKU KPENWFG HGGNKPI XGT[ YGCM QT VKTGF WPWUWCN OWUENG RCKP trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, HGGNKPI EQNF GURGEKCNN[ KP [QWT CTOU CPF NGIU HGGNKPI FK\\[ QT NKIJVJGCFGF CPF QT C HCUV QT KTTGIWNCT JGCTVDGCV Serious liver problems. 6JG NKXGT OC[ DGEQOG NCTIG CPF HCVV[ 5[ORVQOU QH NKXGT RTQDNGOU KPENWFG [QWT UMKP QT VJG YJKVG RCTV QH [QWT G[GU VWTPKPI [GNNQY LCWPFKEG FCTM pVGC EQNQTGFq WTKPG NKIJV EQNQTGF DQYGN OQXGOGPVU
UVQQNU NQUU QH CRRGVKVG PCWUGC CPF QT RCKP CEJKPI QT VGPFGTPGUU QP VJG TKIJV UKFG QH [QWT UVQOCEJ CTGC You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems KH [QW CTG HGOCNG XGT[ QXGTYGKIJV QT JCXG DGGP VCMKPI &'5%18; HQT C NQPI time. In some cases, lactic acidosis and serious liver problems have led to death. Call your healthcare provider TKIJV CYC[ KH [QW JCXG CP[ U[ORVQOU QH VJGUG EQPFKVKQPU Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY KU PQV CRRTQXGF VQ VTGCV *$8 +H [QW JCXG DQVJ *+8 CPF HBV and stop taking DESCOVY, your HBV may suddenly IGV YQTUG &Q PQV UVQR VCMKPI &'5%18; YKVJQWV Æ‚ TUV talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
•
Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines.
•
Changes in your immune system. Your immune system OC[ IGV UVTQPIGT CPF DGIKP VQ Æ‚ IJV KPHGEVKQPU 6GNN [QWT JGCNVJECTG RTQXKFGT KH [QW JCXG CP[ PGY U[ORVQOU CHVGT you start taking DESCOVY.
•
Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. Your healthcare provider may tell you VQ UVQR VCMKPI &'5%18; KH [QW FGXGNQR PGY QT YQTUG kidney problems.
•
Bone problems, UWEJ CU DQPG RCKP UQHVGPKPI QT VJKPPKPI YJKEJ OC[ NGCF VQ HTCEVWTGU ;QWT JGCNVJECTG provider may do tests to check your bones.
The most common side effect QH &'5%18; KU PCWUGC 6GNN [QWT JGCNVJECTG RTQXKFGT KH [QW JCXG CP[ UKFG GHHGEVU that bother you or don’t go away. What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking DESCOVY? •
All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare RTQXKFGT KH [QW JCXG QT JCXG JCF CP[ MKFPG[ DQPG QT NKXGT RTQDNGOU KPENWFKPI JGRCVKVKU XKTWU KPHGEVKQP
•
All the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal UWRRNGOGPVU 1VJGT OGFKEKPGU OC[ CHHGEV JQY &'5%18; YQTMU -GGR C NKUV QH CNN [QWT OGFKEKPGU CPF show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask [QWT JGCNVJECTG RTQXKFGT KH KV KU UCHG VQ VCMG &'5%18; YKVJ CNN QH [QWT QVJGT OGFKEKPGU
•
If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is PQV MPQYP KH &'5%18; ECP JCTO [QWT WPDQTP DCD[ 6GNN [QWT JGCNVJECTG RTQXKFGT KH [QW DGEQOG RTGIPCPV while taking DESCOVY.
•
If you are breastfeeding PWTUKPI QT RNCP VQ DTGCUVHGGF &Q PQV DTGCUVHGGF *+8 ECP DG RCUUGF VQ VJG DCD[ KP breast milk.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/ medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about DESCOVY, including important warnings, on the following page.
Ask your healthcare provider if an HIV-1 treatment that contains DESCOVY® is right for you.
IMPORTANT FACTS (des-KOH-vee)
This is only a brief summary of important information about DESCOVYÂŽ and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT DESCOVY
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF DESCOVY
DESCOVY may cause serious side effects, including:
DESCOVY can cause serious side effects, including:
â‚” Buildup of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.
ₔ ;OVZL PU [OL ¸4VZ[ 0TWVY[HU[ 0UMVYTH[PVU (IV\[ DESCOVY� section. ₔ *OHUNLZ PU IVK` MH[ ₔ *OHUNLZ PU `V\Y PTT\UL Z`Z[LT ₔ 5L^ VY ^VYZL RPKUL` WYVISLTZ PUJS\KPUN RPKUL` MHPS\YL ₔ )VUL WYVISLTZ
ₔ Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored� urine; loss of appetite; light-colored bowel movements (stools); nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.
;OLZL HYL UV[ HSS [OL WVZZPISL ZPKL L LJ[Z VM +,:*6=@ ;LSS `V\Y OLHS[OJHYL WYV]PKLY YPNO[ H^H` PM `V\ OH]L HU` UL^ symptoms while taking DESCOVY.
â‚” Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. DESCOVY is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking +,:*6=@ +V UV[ Z[VW [HRPUN +,:*6=@ ^P[OV\[ Ă„ YZ[ talking to your healthcare provider, as they will need to check your health regularly for several months. You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking DESCOVY or a similar medicine for a long time.
ABOUT DESCOVY â‚” +,:*6=@ PZ H WYLZJYPW[PVU TLKPJPUL [OH[ PZ \ZLK [VNL[OLY with other HIV-1 medicines to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older. DESCOVY is not for use to help reduce the risk of getting HIV-1 infection. â‚” DESCOVY does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others.
The most common side effect of DESCOVY is nausea.
Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with DESCOVY.
BEFORE TAKING DESCOVY Tell your healthcare provider if you: â‚” /H]L VY OHK HU` RPKUL` IVUL VY SP]LY WYVISLTZ including hepatitis infection. â‚” /H]L HU` V[OLY TLKPJHS JVUKP[PVU â‚” (YL WYLNUHU[ VY WSHU [V ILJVTL WYLNUHU[ â‚” (YL IYLHZ[MLLKPUN U\YZPUN VY WSHU [V IYLHZ[MLLK Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: â‚” 2LLW H SPZ[ [OH[ PUJS\KLZ HSS WYLZJYPW[PVU HUK V]LY [OL counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. â‚” (ZR `V\Y OLHS[OJHYL WYV]PKLY VY WOHYTHJPZ[ HIV\[ medicines that should not be taken with DESCOVY.
GET MORE INFORMATION HOW TO TAKE DESCOVY â‚” DESCOVY is a one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine that is taken with other HIV-1 medicines. â‚” ;HRL +,:*6=@ ^P[O VY ^P[OV\[ MVVK
â‚” ;OPZ PZ VUS` H IYPLM Z\TTHY` VM PTWVY[HU[ PUMVYTH[PVU HIV\[ +,:*6=@ ;HSR [V `V\Y OLHS[OJHYL WYV]PKLY VY WOHYTHJPZ[ to learn more. â‚” .V [V +,:*6=@ JVT VY JHSS .03,(+ â‚” 0M `V\ ULLK OLSW WH`PUN MVY `V\Y TLKPJPUL ]PZP[ DESCOVY.com for program information.
+,:*6=@ [OL +,:*6=@ 3VNV .03,(+ [OL .03,(+ 3VNV HUK 36=, >/(;Âť: 05:0+, HYL [YHKLTHYRZ VM .PSLHK :JPLUJLZ 0UJ or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. .PSLHK :JPLUJLZ 0UJ (SS YPNO[Z YLZLY]LK .03*
How does HIV affect my future? It doesn’t. Let’s Grow Old Together See what life with HIV looks like from diagnosis through grandkids with a little help from Walgreens. Explore Calvin’s HIV journey at Walgreens.com/LetsGrowOldTogether. ©2017 Walgreen Co. All rights reserved.
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WHAT IS GENVOYA®? GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years and older and weigh at least 77 lbs. It can either be used in people who are starting HIV-1 treatment and have never taken HIV-1 medicines before, or people who are replacing their current HIV-1 medicines and whose healthcare provider determines they meet certain requirements. These include having an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL) for 6 months or more on their current HIV-1 treatment. GENVOYA combines 4 medicines into 1 pill taken once a day with food. GENVOYA is a complete HIV-1 treatment and should not be used with other HIV-1 medicines. GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. To control HIV-1 infection and decrease HIV-related illnesses, you must keep taking GENVOYA. Ask your healthcare provider if you have questions about how to reduce the risk of passing HIV-1 to others. Always practice safer sex and use condoms to lower the EJCPEG QH UGZWCN EQPVCEV YKVJ DQF[ ƃ WKFU 0GXGT TGWUG QT UJCTG PGGFNGU QT QVJGT KVGOU VJCV JCXG DQF[ ƃ WKFU QP VJGO
medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA. Do not start a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. • The herbal supplement St. John’s wort. • Any other medicines to treat HIV-1 infection.
What are the other possible side effects of GENVOYA? Serious side effects of GENVOYA may also include: • Changes in body fat, which can happen in people taking HIV-1 medicines. • Changes in your immune system. Your immune system may IGV UVTQPIGT CPF DGIKP VQ Ƃ IJV KPHGEVKQPU 6GNN [QWT JGCNVJECTG provider if you have any new symptoms after you start taking GENVOYA. • Kidney problems, including kidney failure. Your healthcare provider should do blood and urine tests to check your kidneys. If you develop new or worse kidney problems, they may tell you to stop taking GENVOYA.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that bother you or don’t go away.
What is the most important information I should know about GENVOYA?
What should I tell my healthcare provider before taking GENVOYA?
GENVOYA may cause serious side effects:
• All your health problems. Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis virus infection.
• Build-up of an acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency. Symptoms of lactic acidosis include feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat. • Serious liver problems. The liver may become large and fatty. Symptoms of liver problems include your skin or the white part of your eyes turning yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-colored” urine; light-colored bowel movements (stools); loss of appetite; nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness in the right side of your stomach area. • You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or serious liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking GENVOYA for a long time. In some cases, lactic acidosis and serious liver problems have led to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any symptoms of these conditions. • Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV and stop taking GENVOYA, your HBV may suddenly get worse. &Q PQV UVQR VCMKPI )'081;# YKVJQWV Ƃ TUV VCNMKPI VQ [QWT healthcare provider, as they will need to monitor your health.
Who should not take GENVOYA?
• All the medicines you take, including prescription and overthe-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Other medicines may affect how GENVOYA works. Keep a list of all your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. Ask your healthcare provider if it is safe to take GENVOYA with all of your other medicines. • If you take antacids. Take antacids at least 2 hours before or after you take GENVOYA. • If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if GENVOYA can harm your unborn baby. Tell your healthcare provider if you become pregnant while taking GENVOYA. • If you are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed. HIV-1 can be passed to the baby in breast milk.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088. Please see Important Facts about GENVOYA including Important Warnings on the following page.
Do not take GENVOYA if you take: • Certain prescription medicines for other conditions. It is important to ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about
Ask your healthcare provider if GENVOYA is right for you, and visit GENVOYA.com to learn more.
GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS.
SHOW YOUR
POWER Take care of what matters most—you. GENVOYA is a 1-pill, once-a-day complete HIV-1 treatment for people who are either new to treatment or people whose healthcare provider determines they can replace their current HIV-1 medicines with GENVOYA.
IMPORTANT FACTS (jen-VOY-uh)
This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and your treatment.
MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GENVOYA
POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS OF GENVOYA
GENVOYAÂŽ may cause serious side effects, including:
GENVOYA can cause serious side effects, including:
• Build-up of lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis), which is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: feeling very weak or tired, unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, stomach pain with nausea or vomiting, feeling cold (especially in your arms and legs), feeling dizzy or lightheaded, and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.
ₔ Those in the “Most Important Information About GENVOYA� section.
• Severe liver problems, which in some cases can lead to death. Call your healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark “tea-coloredâ€? urine; light-colored bowel movements (stools); loss of appetite; nausea; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness in the right side of your stomach area.
â‚” Changes in body fat. â‚” Changes in your immune system. â‚” New or worse kidney problems, including kidney failure. The most common side effect of GENVOYA is nausea. ;OLZL HYL UV[ HSS [OL WVZZPISL ZPKL L LJ[Z VM .,5=6@( ;LSS `V\Y OLHS[OJHYL provider right away if you have any new symptoms while taking GENVOYA. Your healthcare provider will need to do tests to monitor your health before and during treatment with GENVOYA.
â‚” Worsening of hepatitis B (HBV) infection. GENVOYA is not approved to treat HBV. If you have both HIV-1 and HBV, your HBV may suddenly get worse if you stop taking GENVOYA. Do not stop taking GENVOYA ^P[OV\[ Ă„YZ[ [HSRPUN [V `V\Y OLHS[OJHYL WYV]PKLY HZ [OL` ^PSS ULLK [V check your health regularly for several months.
BEFORE TAKING GENVOYA
You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female, very overweight, or have been taking GENVOYA for a long time.
â‚” Have or have had any kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis infection.
Tell your healthcare provider if you:
â‚” Have any other medical condition. â‚” Are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. â‚” Are breastfeeding (nursing) or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby.
ABOUT GENVOYA
Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take: ₔ GENVOYA is a prescription medicine used to treat HIV-1 in people 12 years of age and older and weigh at least 77 lbs who have never taken HIV-1 medicines before. GENVOYA can also be used to replace current HIV-1 medicines for some people who have an undetectable viral load (less than 50 copies/mL of virus in their blood), and have been on the same HIV-1 medicines for at least 6 months and have never failed HIV-1 treatment, and whose healthcare provider determines that they meet certain other requirements. • GENVOYA does not cure HIV-1 or AIDS. Ask your healthcare provider about how to prevent passing HIV-1 to others. Do NOT take GENVOYA if you:
â‚” Keep a list that includes all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements, and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist. â‚” Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about medicines that should not be taken with GENVOYA.
HOW TO TAKE GENVOYA â‚” GENVOYA is a complete one pill, once a day HIV-1 medicine.
â‚” Take a medicine that contains: alfuzosin (UroxatralÂŽ), carbamazepine (CarbatrolÂŽ, EpitolÂŽ, EquetroÂŽ, TegretolÂŽ, Tegretol-XRÂŽ, TerilÂŽ), cisapride (PropulsidÂŽ, Propulsid QuicksolvÂŽ), dihydroergotamine (D.H.E. 45ÂŽ, MigranalÂŽ), ergotamine (CafergotÂŽ, MigergotÂŽ, ErgostatÂŽ, Medihaler ErgotamineÂŽ, Wigraine ÂŽ, WigrettesÂŽ), lovastatin (Advicor ÂŽ, AltoprevÂŽ, Mevacor ÂŽ), lurasidone (LatudaÂŽ), methylergonovine (ErgotrateÂŽ, MethergineÂŽ), midazolam (when taken by mouth), phenobarbital (LuminalÂŽ), phenytoin (DilantinÂŽ, PhenytekÂŽ), pimozide (OrapÂŽ), rifampin (RifadinÂŽ, RifamateÂŽ, Rifater ÂŽ, Rimactane ÂŽ ZPSKLUHĂ„S ^OLU \ZLK MVY lung problems (RevatioÂŽ), simvastatin (Simcor ÂŽ, VytorinÂŽ, Zocor ÂŽ), or triazolam (HalcionÂŽ).
GET MORE INFORMATION
ₔ Take the herbal supplement St. John’s wort.
â‚” If you need help paying for your medicine, visit GENVOYA.com for program information.
â‚” Take any other HIV-1 medicines at the same time.
â‚” Take GENVOYA with food.
â‚” This is only a brief summary of important information about GENVOYA. Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist to learn more. â‚” Go to GENVOYA.com or call 1-800-GILEAD-5
GENVOYA, the GENVOYA Logo, GILEAD, the GILEAD Logo, and LOVE WHAT’S INSIDE are trademarks of Gilead Sciences, Inc., or its related companies. All other marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. Version date: December 2016 Š 2017 Gilead Sciences, Inc. All rights reserved. GENC0126 01/17
HIV Care Will Get More Complex as Population Ages As the HIV population becomes older, an expanding proportion will need treatment for age-related conditions, which will make caring for these individuals increasingly complex. Researchers conducted a modeling study based on data about some 10,000 HIV-positive members of a Dutch cohort who were followed between 1996 and 2010. (The researchers believe their findings should also generally apply to other European nations as well as North America.) The study authors projected that between 2010 and 2030, the median age of HIV-positive individuals taking antiretroviral treatment will rise from 44 to 57 years old. During that time, the proportion of those 50 years or older will increase from 28 to 73 percent. In 2030, a projected 84 percent of HIV-positive individuals will have at least one age-related condition, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, osteoporosis and non-AIDS-related cancers, compared with just 29 percent in 2010; a projected 28 percent will have three or more other age-related heath conditions. By 2030, about 40 percent of people with HIV could experience complications with the currently recommended first-line treatments for the virus, owing to drug-drug interactions and inadvisable pairings with treatments for age-related conditions. Eleanor E. Friedman, PhD, a fellow at the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education who was not involved in this study but researches the changing needs of the aging HIV population, says that this new paper’s projection about widespread drug-drug interactions “provides an impetus to formulate new and different [antiretroviral] treatments that can safely be given in combination with chronic disease treatments.”
USB Stick Can Test HIV Viral Load Researchers are in the early stages of developing a USB stick that could measure an HIV-positive person’s viral load. An individual would place a drop of blood onto a mobile chip and insert the miniature device into a computer or handheld electronic device to get results within half an hour with a 95 percent level of accuracy. Traditional viral load tests typically require a three-day turnaround to get the results back from an off-site laboratory. Around the world, such tests are often unavailable to people with HIV, so the USB-based test could fill this gap, particularly in hard-hit sub-Saharan Africa. “In such situations it could probably be used by health care workers with relatively little training,” says Graham Cooke, MD, the senior author of the research on the USB device and a professor in the infectious diseases department at Imperial College London. Conducting routine viral load tests is a vital part of providing effective HIV treatment because the results indicate how well antiretroviral drugs are suppressing the virus. According to Cooke, individuals could one day use the USB test to determine their viral load much in the same way that people with diabetes test their blood sugar at home with simple devices.
poz.com MARCH 2017 POZ 17
ÂŽ
DINING OUT FOR LIFE Thursday, April 27, 2017*
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*Check diningoutforlife.com for your city’s date.
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Dine Out to End AIDS Dining Out For Life and longtime partner Subaru team up with restaurants to raise millions for HIV/AIDS service organizations. A portion of your check will support these organizations in your city. Find participating restaurants and info at diningoutforlife.com.
Carol Snodgrass (left) met Will Davis through the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force buddy program.
The
Buddy System PROGRAMS THAT OFFER ONEON-ONE SUPPORT TO PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV TACKLE STIGMA AND ISOLATION AND HELP FOSTER WELLNESS. BY RITA RUBIN PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHANDLER CROWELL
WHEN WILL DAVIS’S LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF UNPAID speeding tickets in three states, he contacted the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force (PATF) in the hope that he could be paired with a volunteer “buddy” who could drive him where he needed to go, like doctors’ appointments. “I didn’t want to be isolated,” Davis says. “I just wanted to get out sometimes.” But when Davis was assigned Carol Snodgrass as his buddy nearly two years ago, he got far more than a chauffeur. While they might not appear to have much in common—Davis is a 50-year-old, HIV-positive Black heterosexual man, while Snodgrass is a 76-year-old, HIV-negative white lesbian—they have become true buddies, despite a rocky start. Davis learned he had HIV in 2000. Two years later, he left his native North Carolina to study graphic design at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. He had family— an aunt, three brothers and cousins in New Castle, Pennsylvania, a town about 50 miles northwest of Pittsburgh—but that was too far for impromptu gettogethers, especially after Davis lost his license. Alone and isolated, he ended
poz.com MARCH 2017 POZ 33
In adults with HIV on ART who have diarrhea not caused by an infection
IMPORTANT PATIENT INFORMATION This is only a summary. See complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or by calling 1-844-722-8256. This does not take the place of talking with your doctor about your medical condition or treatment.
What Is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine used to improve symptoms of noninfectious diarrhea (diarrhea not caused by a bacterial, viral, or parasitic infection) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on ART. Do Not Take Mytesi if you have diarrhea caused by an infection. Before you start Mytesi, your doctor and you should make sure your diarrhea is not caused by an infection (such as bacteria, virus, or parasite).
Possible Side Effects of Mytesi Include:
Tired of planning your life around diarrhea?
Enough is Enough Get relief. Pure and simple. Ask your doctor about Mytesi. Mytesi (crofelemer): • Is the only medicine FDA-approved to relieve diarrhea in people with HIV • Treats diarrhea differently by normalizing the flow of water in the GI tract • Has the same or fewer side effects as placebo in clinical studies • Comes from a tree sustainably harvested in the Amazon Rainforest What is Mytesi? Mytesi is a prescription medicine that helps relieve symptoms of diarrhea not caused by an infection (noninfectious) in adults living with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Important Safety Information Mytesi is not approved to treat infectious diarrhea (diarrhea caused by bacteria, a virus, or a parasite). Before starting you on Mytesi, your healthcare provider will first be sure that you do not have infectious diarrhea. Otherwise, there is a risk you would not receive the right medicine and your infection could get worse. In clinical studies, the most common side effects that occurred more often than with placebo were upper respiratory tract (sinus, nose, and throat) infection (5.7%), bronchitis (3.9%), cough (3.5%), flatulence (3.1%), and increased bilirubin (3.1%).
Please see complete Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com. NP-390-6
RELIEF, PURE AND SIMPLE
• Upper respiratory tract infection (sinus, nose, and throat infection) • Bronchitis (swelling in the tubes that carry air to and from your lungs) • Cough • Flatulence (gas) • Increased bilirubin (a waste product when red blood cells break down) For a full list of side effects, please talk to your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Should I Take Mytesi If I Am: Pregnant or Planning to Become Pregnant? • Studies in animals show that Mytesi could harm an unborn baby or affect the ability to become pregnant • There are no studies in pregnant women taking Mytesi • This drug should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed A Nursing Mother? • It is not known whether Mytesi is passed through human breast milk • If you are nursing, you should tell your doctor before starting Mytesi • Your doctor will help you to decide whether to stop nursing or to stop taking Mytesi Under 18 or Over 65 Years of Age? • Mytesi has not been studied in children under 18 years of age • Mytesi studies did not include many people over the age of 65. So it is not clear if this age group will respond differently. Talk to your doctor to find out if Mytesi is right for you
What Should I Know About Taking Mytesi With Other Medicines? If you are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medicine, herbal supplements, or vitamins, tell your doctor before starting Mytesi.
What If I Have More Questions About Mytesi? For more information, please see the full Prescribing Information at Mytesi.com or speak to your doctor or pharmacist. To report side effects or make a product complaint or for additional information, call 1-844-722-8256.
Rx Only pharmaceuticals Manufactured by Patheon, Inc. for Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. San Francisco, CA 94105 Copyright © Napo Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Mytesi comes from the Croton lechleri tree harvested in South America.