AEGiS-GMHC: BULLETIN: Less Costly/Better PCP Prevention

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

BULLETIN: Less Costly/Better PCP Prevention

Gay Men's Health Crisis Treatment Issues, Vol. 5, No. 7 - October, 1991

Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (brand names, Bactrim or Septra) is a drug for preventing Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) which has recently been deemed superior to the standard (and significantly more expensive) treatment, aerosolized pentamidine (AP). This news comes from the results of a federally-funded study (ACTG #021), in which the risk of recurrent PCP was found to be 3.25 times greater in patients taking AZT with AP than in patients taking AZT with Bactrim or Septra. Some people experience severe allergies to Bactrim or Septra, as they are similar sulfa drugs both made of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). For those without sulfa allergies, the savings from taking Bactrim or Septra may reach $3,000 per patient per year.

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