Newspaper Page Text
Alive &
Aware
I by NAPWA for People With AIDS or ARC and Others Who Care
VOLUME II, NUMBER 6
DECEMBER 1988
In a very emotional weekend, the Names Project National AIDS Memorial Quilt returned to Washington last October. This time the quilt was
displayed in front of the White House, making a strong, silent statement about the Reagan administration's response to the AIDS epidemic.
Dextran
Sulfate Facts
The information contained in the following
article is intended to increase awareness of and
encourage personal empowerment through
active treatment strategies. It is neither an
endorsement nor a recomendation of any
particular treatment, drug or physician.
Since the new FDA ruling allowing individuals
to import drugs for their own personal use, we
have had numerous calls coming into the office
about Dextran Sulfate. In an effort to answer some
of these questions, we have compiled the
following information from several sources.
Dextran Sulfate has been used as a treatment for
high cholesteral in Japan for the last 20 years,
where it is available without a prescription You
may order your own three-month supply, for
personal use, firm Japan or any of several Buyer's
Clubs.
Dextran Sulfate appears to act against HIV in
two specific ways. First, it appears to inhibit the
production of the protein (Reverse Transcriptase)
required for the virus to reproduce. This is similar
to AZT. This action protects your T-Cells from
further infection Dextran Sulfate goes one step
further than AZT, however. It prevents those T-
Cells which are already infected from linking up
and becoming "Giant Cells" which further
damage the immune system. Dextran Sulfate
stands alone among AIDS drugs thus far in its
ability to do this.
In addition to this, Dextran Sulfate does appear
to be synergistic with AZT. All the laboratory
research done thus far indicates that the two drugs
in combination together work better than either
drug alone. (Ucno and Kuno, June 1987, October,
1987; disputed by Bercnbaum, 1987)
People with AIDS or ARC are using doses two
to three times larger than commonly used in
Japan- and these larger doses have already been
tested in humans without problems. PWAs and
PWARCs can show unexpected toxicity to drugs;
but so far studies show no serious side effects. The
only known side effects are loss of appetite and
feeling of fullness, occasionally there is a minor
rash.
Even persons allergic to Sulfa drugs can
apparently use Dextran Sulfate (Gingell, 1987).
Our impression so far from people using
Dextran Sulfate is that most of them are getting
good results using frequent doses- usually every
four hours. Almost everyone is combining
Dextran Sulfate with other antivirals, especially
Acyclovir, and often low-dose AZT and/or AL
721 in addition.
Arthur Paquette is a local PWA who has had
PCP and Cryptocacal Menningitis twice. In his
first year of diagnosis, he used only AZT. For
Arthur, the AZT caused extreme anemia. He had
to receive 4 units of packed red cells every 4-6
weeks. After about 9 months, he began suffering
from severe headaches.
Tests proved that his headaches were not the
return of meningitis, but pointed instead to the
AZT. Reducing the AZT stopped the headaches,
Ixit Arthur still needed some type of Anti-HIV
drug to deal with his compromised immune
system.
About two and a half months ago he began
supplementing his 1/2 dose of AZT with Dextran
Sulfate. He has gained back most of the weight he
lost in the past year, and has found that his stamina
has greatly increased. Arthur has experienced no
negative side effects from the Dextran Sulfate.
Precautions and Safety
Dextran Sulfate has an anticoagulant effect, so
theoretically it could cause bleeding problems.
Continued on Page 3
Christmas Survival Tips
Watch out! The holidays are upon
us! For sane of us the waning
weeks of the old year,
are a time of joyful
activity. For others it is a
guaranteed dose of anxiety
and tensions, replete with
"shoulds" and "have-to's,"
and a mounting sense
dread for what lies ahead. And
fa others still - far too many - it's,
an occasion of loneliness
and depression.
If you are in the second a third/
category, there are ways to break I
holiday blues syndrome. But if yo
negative response to the holidays is so deep-rooted
and severe that growth in this area is stifled, by all
means seek counseling well before you find - '
yourself being dragged down.
Here are some practical suggestions to help you
respond to the holidays with a fresh and positive
attitude:
• The holidays are filled with religious
significance that is too often overshadowed by
secular traditions. If you are not a regular member
of a synagogue a a church that keeps you mindful
of such things, do some research on what is
actually being celebrated and ponder the meaning
fa yourself.
• Traditiais, both religious and secular, are
impotanL Think about family activities relating to
the holidays when you were a child and use those
that most appeal to you. Or make up some new
traditions. Even if you live alone you can be
comfoted and inspired by something as simple as
lighting a candle and reflecting on what was
positive in your life that day.
• Holiday meals can be a source of anguish It's
painful to see others group into family and close-
friend units and to be on the outside of this happy
crowd. Why should you have to be atone? Get
together with others in the same situation and plan
a dinner together. Everyone shares in the
preparation and expense and each does his a her
best to make the occasion festive and meaningful.
But don't turn it into an orphan's party. Act like
there's no place you'd rather be.
• If you are truly an outsider, whether by
circumstance a choice, you still don't have
to be alone. Our conmunity is filled with
people in need and many organizations
"geared up to offer relief over the holidays.
Connect with one of them and help feed the
hungry, deliver toys to underpriveledged
children or visit patients in hospitals,
nursing hones or hospices. There are
many people who choose to be involved
in these kind of fulfilling
activities rather than taking
advantage of opportunities to
socialize.
If gift-giving has becone an
expensive and unwanted
obligation, put a stop to it
now. Tell friends
rand family "I love
'you, but let's not
^exchange gifts
^anymore." (They might
relieved.) Or draw
"names among family
members a your circle of close friends and buy
just one thoughtful gift. Make gifts a give a gift
of time, like offering to clean a friend's apartment
a weed a garden Give a dotation to a charitable
organization in someone else's name.
We know you'll be able to add many creative
ideas to these suggestion and bring new meaning
to the words "Happy Holidays."