A commonly used AIDS drug may double the risk of heart attack

In a study published online by the medical journal Lancet (April 2, 2008), Ziagen, appears to double the chances of a heart attack compared to patients on other AIDS drugs, the researchers reported. Those on Videx had a 50 percent higher chance. But the risk disappeared six months after patients stopped taking the drugs.


No increased heart attack risk was found for patients on the other drugs in the study, zidovudine (AZT), stavudine (Zerit) or lamivudine (Epivir).