Symptoms to watch out for include increased thirst and hunger, unexplained weight loss, increased urination, fatigue, and dry, itchy skin. There have been 83 cases of this problem reported so far, usually 10-11 weeks after starting the protease inhibitor, although in one case symptoms started just four days afterwards. Metabolic side effects . The symptoms can include high levels of a type of fat called cholesterol, and other fats known as triglycerides. In a few cases, high levels of fats in the blood have caused heart problems because of fat in the coronary arteries.
Coronary arteries carry blood to the heart, and blocked coronary arteries can cause heart attacks.
Many doctors now recommend you be given a test that measures how much fat is in your blood. The test should be done before starting HIV treatment, and at least every three months afterwards. The test is called a fasting lipid test . The fasting part means you don't eat before you take the test. You should keep to a low fat diet if the results of the test are high.