Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2003. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date. I have been on antiretrovirals (stocrin and combivir) for 8 months now. My CD4 [T-cell count] is at 280 and my viral load is undetectable, BUT I have noticed my nails , basically my fingers turning dark and the soles of my feet and toes turning dark - are these the "side effects"?
Is there anything I can do to make them lighter again - they look terrible and I cannot keep wearing
"closed" shoes or socks with sandals all the time. When one looks at my feet
they will think I do not wear shoes at all and do not wash them .
Please advise. And thank you for this website !
Dear Reader,
The AZT component of Combivir is most likely causing the nail discoloration. This is a well-known side effect of AZT, but I don't know of any way to counteract this color change. Fortunately this is not damaging to the nails, and the nails will grow out normal again when the AZT is discontinued.
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