(ATDN) Warnings about Trental and Hydrogen Peroxide

(ATDN) Warnings about Trental and Hydrogen Peroxide

Treatment Review No. 12; June 1994

The drug Trental, also called pentoxifylline, is used to treat circulation disorders in older people. This drug has recently been tested for HIV. It is used off-label by some people with AIDS and HIV. Off-label means that a doctor can prescribe the drug, although the purpose that it is prescribed for is not the same purpose for which the drug was approved by the FDA.

A recent study of Trental showed that the drug has no effects whatsoever against HIV. It was believed that the drug might reduce levels of an immune system chemical called tumor necrosis factor (TNF). No one in this study had a decrease in the amount of TNF in their blood.

Also, there were no improvements in T4 cell counts, amount of virus in the blood, or overall health. In fact, several people had significant side effects. The side effects reported include fevers, headaches, stomach upset and nausea. Trental is known to cause other side effects as well, including bleeding of the stomach and skin. There is concern that the drug may affect the eyesight of those who take it. People who are taking Trental are cautioned to be careful. Hydrogen peroxide, a chemical typically used to kill germs, has been suggested by some alternative treatment advocates, as a potential anti-HIV treatment. A recent letter to a scientific magazine related the death of a person with AIDS who injected hydrogen peroxide into his body through a catheter

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Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeard in 1994. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

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This information is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
©1994. AEGIS.