Question
What can I do about peripheral neuropathy?
14 May 2013. Related: All topics, Side effects, South Africa.
Hi,
I’m HIV+ I have a problem- my legs are itching and burning inside. The doctor said it is peripheral neuropathy. I would like to know how can I make this go away because I can’t wear shoes.
Answer
Hello,
I’m very sorry to hear that you are suffering from peripheral neuropathy. This is a very unpleasant side effect that is particularly associated with older HIV drugs d4T and ddI. Are you still using either of these drugs?
The first thing to do is to make sure you are not using either of those drugs. If you are it is very important that your doctor changes your treatment so that these symptoms do not keep getting worse.
The earlier you switch treatment, and the less severe the side effects when you switch, the more likely that the symptoms will reverse, but this does not happen for everyone. After switching, you may have to wait up to two months to know how much this has helped. Often symptoms can continue to get worse before you notice an improvement.
I’m afraid that there are no approved treatments to repair damaged nerves and peripheral neuropathy is not always reversible. There are some alternative treatments such as cod liver oil that may help or painkillers may be used to mask the symptoms. There is much more information about this in our side effects guide.
Please have a read through the information at the page above and let me know if you have any questions. Because you are based in South Africa you may also want to contact the Treatment Action Campaign for advice about support and treatment in your area.
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