1. A few researchers began testing a concept that cycles of starting and stopping drug therapy might strengthen the immune system and help people battle HIV. 2. But anecdotal reports that a rare individual could stop therapy and not have HIV return intrigued scientists. 3. But a smoker who had to stop therapy to recover from side effects had a poorer chance of survival than a nonsmoker. 4. But studies show that the drug cocktails do not cure HIV, and when infected people stop therapy, the virus rebounds, making lifetime therapy necessary. 5. He also cautions patients that they need to change their lifestyle while on the pills and warns them that weight gain is expected upon stopping the therapy. 6. However, upon stopping drug therapy, most of the subjects returned to their normal weight. 7. If the lymph nodes are clear, the physicians will then ponder the difficult decision of whether to risk stopping therapy. 8. In fact, among women who stopped hormone therapy, there was actually a somewhat lower risk of breast cancer than in women who never used the therapy. 9. Most patients gain a noticeable benefit from light therapy within two weeks, but their SAD symptoms quickly return if they stop light therapy, Tassinari said. 10. Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital say they were highly encouraged by the results when they repeatedly stopped triple-drug therapy in HIV-infected volunteers. |