HIV Digest	HIV Digest Archive

Question for TheBody.com's "Ask the Experts":

I'm poz and under medication. Can I still have estasy [sic] for fun?

Response from Dr. Frascino: Estasy? Hmm... what's that?

If you mean "ecstasy" as in "a state of emotion so intense that one is carried beyond rational thought," sure! Poz or neggie, intensely feeling great definitely rocks!

If you mean "ecstasy" as in methylenedioxymethamphetamine, nope! How come? See my response to the next query...

Q

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uestion: I wanna know if taking ecstasy or 'Special K' can be more harmful for me than if I were negative. I am from Israel and a new positive. I have CD4 count of 851 (37%) and a viral load of 9890. My doc said that I don't need to take meds for now. I know that taking these things while taking drugs for HIV is dangerous. But I'm not taking drugs yet. Should I stop using ecstasy or Special K?

Response from Dr. Frascino:

Hello Israeli Guy,

You are correct: using club drugs, like ecstasy or Special K while on HIV medications is indeed very dangerous, due to drug interactions.

Is taking these drugs "more harmful" because you are HIV-positive if you are not on anti-HIV drug therapy yet?

Your question, as stated, implies club drugs are harmful whether or not you are HIV-positive.

Once again, I concur.

Are they "more harmful" just because you're positive is difficult to answer. Since these drugs are illegal and also since it would be unethical to conduct a clinical trial on just how harmful (or more harmful) they are in HIV-positive folks, I cannot give you a direct answer, other than to say they are unquestionably harmful.

Ecstasy is an amphetamine with both stimulant and hallucinogenic properties. It increases heart rate, blood pressure, and consumption of oxygen by the heart muscle. It increases the risk of dehydration, seizures, kidney failure, heart failure, and death. Regular use causes lasting damage to brain cells, resulting in impaired memory, disrupted sleep, depression, and anxiety.

Special K is ketamine, a short-acting general anesthetic often used in veterinary medicine. It causes dreamlike hallucinatory effects. Low doses produce a mellow, colorful experience, whereas higher doses create an "out of body" or "near death" experience, loss of consciousness, delirium, amnesia, seizures, and even, in some cases, fatal respiratory collapse. When combined with alcohol, there is a risk of falling asleep or collapsing, and then vomiting and possibly choking on one's own vomit.

Should you stop using ecstasy or Special K? Yes, I would definitely stop, whether or not you are HIV-infected. The ultimate decision is yours; however, your chances of successfully coexisting with HIV are significantly decreased if you choose to continue using.

-- from TheBody.com