Generic Antiretrovirals (Arvs) Hiv Medication - Its Available, Accessible & Affordable

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

We are a group of like-minded people, working to respond more efficiently and effectively to both medical and socio-political issues, within our community. In terms of living with HIV here, we offer cheaper generic versions of anti-retrovirals required by those on treatment. These medicines are USFDA certified approved and include WHO prequalifications.

Each transaction requires patient to show his prescription as a form of verification to safeguard against and prevent abuse of medicine. For further info, please contact me at 9753 1592.


Thanks, Hotspunk.

Edited October 21, 2013 by Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

To all our poz friends out there,

 

Do consider to start treatment earlier. Talk to your doctor.

Costs of medication has come down. So it is very affordable now.

Help is available. Talk to me

 

Cheers,

Hotspunk. 

97531592

Edited June 5, 2013 by Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

I am still getting enquiries from friends saying that they think HIV Medication is expensive and want to delay starting treatment, until the very last moment, or when they get really sick. Please do not do this, as it will negatively impact on your health. I know, cos I experienced it myself

 

I would like to clear the misconceptions here. Although HIV medication being sold at the 3 hospital (SGH, NUH, TTSH/CDC) pharmacies are expensive, these are the branded originals; there are generic HIV medication available out there in Singapore, and prices are very affordable.

 

Being HIV positive is no longer a death sentence. No one is dying from it now. Everyone is alive, on treatment and doing well. Most continue working in their current jobs and very few are adversely affected by the side effects of the medication. The newer types of medication are easy to take and patients experience minimal side effects. There is no muscle wasting (lipodystrophy) like those experienced in the earlier years.

Taking 8 pills 3 times a day are a thing of the past. Nowadays its 3 in 1, so its just 1 pill a day!

 

If you do not know your HIV status, get tested. There are annonymous test sites out there. Just google them on line.

If you know your status, do see your doctor regularly (6 monthly) and check your blood counts. I cannot reinforce this point enough.

Our health is so important to us. So do what you can to maintain yourself in good health.

Within your blood tests, the most important to look out for would be your CD4 and Viral Load count.

CD4 is a measure of your immune system. The higher the count, the better. WHO guidelines in 2013 are now revised to 500 CD4 count.

So if you are there or below 500, do talk with your doctor and get started on treatment asap!

Viral Load measures how much virus per ml3 of blood is in u. It can be in the thousands to hundreds of thousands or even a million.

You are very infectious at this stage and you can transmit the virus to your partner.

 

Starting treatment means the medication you take, will suppress the virus from developing further. Virus will die after a while and your VL will drop to "undetectable levels". This means there are few virus left in your bloodstream for the computer to measure and count. Usually the measurement is less than 40 copies. Doc will measure your VL 1st month after starting medication, and 3 & 6 months later. Once your virus is at undetectable levels, you are considered uninfectious. It is in everyone's interest (healthcare officials and community leaders) to reduce our community viral load, so that we do not continue to infect others unknowingly. Sex is a mutual activity and responsibility. One should not blame the other, or blame the person living with HIV. Living with HIV already has its own challenges. But that is a story for another time.

 

Back to HIV treatment and medication. As I was saying, there are recognised suppliers out there who provide HIV medication to patients living with HIV. Talk with your doctor, nurse and/or medical social worker who can point you in the right direction. I will also include my number below, for you to contact me if you have any queries.

 

WHO Recommended combination drug therapy as at June 2013:

• First-line ART should consist of two nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) plus a non-nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)

• TDF + 3TC (or FTC) + EFV as a fixed-dose combination is recommended as the preferred option to initiate ART (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence).
• If TDF + 3TC (or FTC) + EFV is contraindicated or not available, one of the following options is recommended:
  • AZT + 3TC + EFV
  • AZT + 3TC + NVP
  • TDF + 3TC (or FTC) + NVP (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence).

• Countries should discontinue d4T use in first-line regimens because of its wellrecognized metabolic toxicities (strong recommendation, moderate-quality evidence).

 

1st Line treatment (generic version) is available from supplier at S$120/mth (TDF + 3TC or FTC + EFV).

At CDC, its $440/mth. At SGH its $981.60/mth. 

Pills at hospital pharmacy are also individual pills, while generic supplier has the 3 in 1 pill. So its easier to take and cheaper too.

2nd line medication are bit more expensive and costs around $200/mth and 3rd line around $420.

So talk with your doctor first about starting treatment early and the possible drug combinations.

 

Best wishes, stay healthy and happy surfing,

 

Hotspunk

97531592

Edited November 1, 2013 by Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

For patients who develop resistance to first line HIV therapy, it is usually the medication, efavirenz, that our body doesn't agree with. 

However, there is still hope.  

 

Second line medication is available and not too expensive around $200+ per month supply.

People usually take Tenofovir + Emtricitabine (or Lamivudine) and combine with Lopinovir and Ritonovir. 

Latter two are from the Protease Inhibitor (PI) class of ARV drugs.  

 

While Tenofovir +  Emtri (or Lami) is only 1 pill a day, Lopi & Novir are up to 4 or 5 pills a day.

Some have changed from Lopi & Norvir to Atazanavir + Norvir, which is a combination pill.

And u only need to take 1 pill a day. So it is much easier now and more convenient.

 

Talk  with your doctor for the recommended combination and those combinations with fewest pills to take per day.

Remember you will need to pop these pills everyday, for the rest of your life.

Actually, it is not that bad. Think of it, as taking your vitamins daily. That's what I do. 

 

Best wishes and stay healthy,

Hotspunk!

97531592

Edited November 1, 2013 by Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

Thank you all for your enquiries via private messages.

Keep them coming in.

 

Seasons Greetings!

 

Best wishes,

Hotspunk.

[Hotspunk]

Dear Friends,

 

If you are on the Atripla (3 in 1) combination and you develop rashes, it is likely due to the Efavirenz component.  

Go see your doctor about it.

If its really serious, doc may ask you to switch combination and swap Efavirenz with Nevirapine or a Protease Inhibitor such as Atazanavir+Ritonavir or Lopinavir+Ritonavir.

 

Stay well and keep those queries coming.

 

Regards,

Hotspunk.

[Hotspunk]

Hi All,

 

The 3 in 1 pill is now available in Singapore. It is the generic version of Atripla.

 

Atripla is the brand name and expensive because it is made by BMS/Gilead.

Indian manufacturers have made bio-equivalent formulations.

 

They have been 'QCed' and approved by USFDA and at the same time meet WHO prequalifications.

We carry two brands: Teevir by Mylan, and Viraday by Cipla.

 

You can google these names to learn more about the medication and the pharmaceutical companies making them.

They are huge companies in India and supply generic medication to the rest of the world.

 

Teevir and Viraday are available here.

As a community, we strive to bring accessible and affordable medication to those affected by HIV.  

Prices have been reduced. Each pill now cost a bowl of noodles today.

 

Please inform your friends who need medication to start treatment sooner and not delay as this may adversely affected their health.

Talk with your doctor today. Or contact me at +65 97531592.

 

Thanks

Hotspunk.

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

For those on the Z250 combination (Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine), please take note that Thailand (GPO) has stopped production of this fixed dose pill.

You will now have to take Zilarvir (Zidovudine & Lamivudine) and Neravir (Nevirapine) separately.

 

Hopefully, the numbers of you on this combination are getting less, as your doctors shift you over to the WHO recommended 1st line combination of

Tenofovir, Lamivudine/Emtricitabine, and Efavirenz or Nevirapine.

 

While our hospitals' pharmacy charge you >$450 for the 3 medicines that you need to take separately, my 3 in 1 pill (Teevir) cost one quarter that price.

Treatment is now much cheaper, affordable and convenient to take.

 

Cheers,

Hotspunk

97531592

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

Wishing everyone a very MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Have a wonderful time, enjoy yourselves and stay healthy!

 

Love,

Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

Wishing everyone a very Happy Valentine's Day!!

Have lots of fun, be responsible and stay healthy.

 

Love,

Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

Thanks for your enquiries and keep them coming in.

 

It was nice also to meet up with all of you.

 

For 2015, I will do my best to maintain prices. For some items, prices have been reduced.

These efforts are to help our own affected community.

 

Wishing everyone healthy and happy living.

 

Cheers,

 

Hotspunk

[Hotspunk]

Greetings to all here,

 

Just to wish everyone a wonderful Summer Solstice.

 

Stay happy and healthy!

 

Hotspunk.

 

ps: thanks for all your enquiries and keep them coming in....

[Hotspunk]

Dear All,

 

PrEP is available here now!  

 

 

BANGKOK, 23 September 2015 — An innovative HIV prevention tool, which has shown to be effective at reducing the transmission of HIV in gay men and others at higher risk is to be introduced in parts of Asia. While, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP is starting to transform HIV prevention in the United States, it has yet to be integrated into programmes in Asia. Representatives from national AIDS programmes, health service providers and community groups from eighteen countries in Asia are exploring how to roll-out PrEP at a meeting taking place from 23-25 September in Bangkok, Thailand.

PrEP is the use of antiretroviral medication in the form of a daily pill to prevent people from acquiring HIV. It has shown up to 90% effectiveness in preventing the transmission of HIV in people at substantial risk, including gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), HIV-negative people whose partners are living with HIV, transgender women and people who inject drugs.

The three day consultation PrEPARING Asia is led by the Asia Pacific Coalition on Male Sexual Health (APCOM) with support from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), World Health Organization, UNICEF, USAID and FHI360.

"We know that insisting on using condoms alone does not work for HIV prevention and PrEP can be an option for some MSM, but this needs to be integrated into the current prevention package,” said Midnight Poonkasetwattana, APCOM’s Executive Director. “APCOM's role is to ensure that our community know the correct information on PrEP and can advocate for its inclusion at the national level."

Asia is experiencing a severe AIDS epidemic among MSM. In six countries HIV prevalence is greater than 5% and surveys indicate that in some large cities prevalence ranges from 15% to 30% among MSM. Consistent condom use remains low. In most major Asian cities less than half of MSM are using condoms consistently, which is far too low to have an impact on stopping the AIDS epidemic.

“The numbers say it all. We can not stop new HIV infections in gay men and other men who have sex with men if we stick to business as usual,” said Steve Kraus, Director of UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Asia and the Pacific. “PrEP answers an unmet need and expands the prevention options for people at substantial risk of HIV. We need to scale up PrEP as an additional effective HIV prevention intervention.”

PrEP is currently the only available prevention option that HIV-negative people can use discretely and not at the time of sex. However, it does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections and is not a contraceptive, so its provision is best integrated with other sexual and reproductive health services, including condoms.

So far only the United States has approved the use of PrEP for HIV prevention. Other parts of the world have much less information. In Asia, Thailand is playing a leading role in increasing awareness and demand, with the Thai Red Cross AIDS Research Center offering PrEP to a small number of MSM as part of a combined pilot HIV prevention program.

The rollout of PrEP faces challenges as users need to have regular medical check-ups and evaluation, including HIV tests and effectiveness is highly dependent on adherence.
While acknowledging the challenges, leading epidemiologist and President of the International AIDS Society Chris Beyrer said: “The time to act is now. The evidence is overwhelming. PrEP works.”