Question
Are there some side effects that only occur in African people?
10 March 2006. Related: All topics, Side effects.
Answer
Yes. Although most side effects can occur in anyone, independently of their racial background, there are a few side effects related to pigment changes, that particularly affect people with darker skin.
One of these is where your finger or toe nails become darker. This is mainly linked to AZT. It is also linked to the combination tablets that include AZT, like Combivir and Trizivir.
Another specific side effect is that FTC (emtricitabine) can make small changes to the skin colour in African people, usually in the form of darker spots on the palms of the hands. A recent report suggested that this happens in less than 5% of people using FTC.
The discolouration to either skin or nails does not do you any physical harm, but many people do not like it and so they switch to an alternative drug.
Other differences in side effects can be related to genetic factors including race. Efavirenz (Sustiva) can take longer for the body to process in African women. This can mean higher levels of this drug, and a higher risk of the usual side effects associated with this drug. There are other implications about how to stop treatment, that we hope to cover in a future article.
(Adapted from a question from the i-Base Q&A pages of the African Eye a new treatment publication for African communities affected by HIV who are living in the UK)
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