Dealing with drug side effects

January 2004     View PDF     En español

Weight loss

Weight loss can be a serious problem in HIV disease. It can result from some of the side effects discussed in this section—like vomiting, nausea, dry mouth, anemia or fatigue.

Unfortunately, even though the signs of weight loss can be obvious, it is not always seen as a problem. In fact, many positive women who lose weight due to HIV-related problems are praised and told they “look good.”

If you’re losing weight and it’s not because you altered your diet or exercise patterns for that purpose, it’s never a good thing. Talking to a doctor to identify its cause is critical to treating unwanted weight loss.

Tips for weight loss

• Monitor your weight. If you are losing weight, work with your doctor to determine the cause. Is it stress-related? Is it accompanying nausea or vomiting? Has it occurred after starting a new medication? What other things are going on?
• Try high protein shake mixes, like Med-Rx or Metabol. Look for products high in protein and low in sugar. These are available at most health food and vitamin stores.
• Ask about discounts at health food and vitamin stores. They sometimes provide people with life-threatening diseases special savings on nutritional products.