Can Truvada Be Used for HIV Prophylaxis - Essay Example

"Can Truvada Be Used for HIV Prophylaxis" is a perfect example of a paper on drug therapy. 
Can Truvada be used for HIV prophylaxis? If so, what patient population can it be used in and what are the dosing and monitoring parameters?

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a virus that scientists have not to find a cure for and has been killing a lot of people since it was discovered almost two decades ago. With this in mind, people have been opting for prevention techniques and drugs (prophylaxis) to protect themselves from acquiring the virus for those who are HIV negative or from getting another strain of HIV (HIV-1) for those who are already infected. Truvada is one of such drugs (National Health Laboratory Service, 2012).

A study conducted by Gilead Sciences (manufacturers of Truvada) which took three years came up with the conclusion that Truvada can be used as HIV prophylaxis. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this year approved the use of this drug as prophylaxis to be used among gay and bisexual men (Jefferson, 2012). The drug however should always be accompanied by other preventive measures like the use of a condom and counseling should be sought first. According to the research conducted, Truvada can reduce the risk of HIV infection by over 40% for the homosexuals and over 75% for heterosexuals where one partner is infected if used according to instructions. The dosage that is approved is one tablet per day and it does not matter whether the person has eaten or not. These drug-like most drugs have their own shares of side effects which may be present in some people and lack in others. Some of these side effects include liver problems like having an enlarged liver of fat in the liver, there is also an acid build up in the blood that may in turn lead to a series of serious symptoms including an irregular heartbeat. The most common side effects that are experienced by many are diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and headaches among others nut none of it is serious enough. Risks in pregnant women are however unknown and doctor’s advice should be sought first before taking it for those who are pregnant. Truvada works by lowering the amount of virus that is circulating in the blood. This means that it alters the genetic material of CD4 cells and hence inhibiting the cells from the production of new viruses and thus decreases the amount of HIV that is in the body (Grady, 2012).

The approval of the drug by FDA and its release in the market come amid controversy from health experts about its serious side effects that have been mentioned above and also its moral side effects to the public who might engage in more risky sexual behavior because there is prophylaxis in the market. The costs that have been put for the drug by its manufactures Gilead Sciences are very high and not all can afford it (even though there are payment programs approved by the company). The costs can go up to $14,000 within a year. Despite the above, FDA considers it the currently best prevention option and it assures the public that they have nothing to worry about and should take Truvada but with counseling and safe usage of a condom. FDA’s approval should lead to more increased use of the drug and hence general reduction in the number of new HIV infection cases in the public and this will act as one of the greatest fights against the infection which currently stands at around 1.2 million people in America only (Park, 2012).