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Q: Recreational Drugs
Although recreational drugs are not nutritious, they are often consumed through the digestive system, so I can't help but wonder how MDMA (Ecstasy) and LSD might effect my HIV and my digestive tract.
A: Ken Stringer, Website Administrator,
responds:First of all, Jennifer Jensen's Nutrition Power cannot condone the taking of illegal substances. But more important than that, we cannot condone the taking of drugs, illegal or otherwise, that your doctor does not know about...ESPECIALLY in the case of HIV+ people. Positive People have plenty of complicated things happening in their bodies without adding more complications from poorly studied drugs. And don't overlook the purity and quality control issues that accompany any drug from an unregulated source. Our position is, give your body a break and just say unh-unh.
Still, the question does raise a valid issue and we don't want to sidestep it. Read on for Charlie's response below.
A: Charlie Smigelski, RD, responds:
Let me start by saying that I do not know of any safe way to take recreational drugs like LSD or MDMA, even if they were legal. The gut has fat and gel layers that protect intestinal cells from damage by gut acids. Many common over-the-counter items like antacids, cigarettes, and cocktails irritate and weaken the protective layer. AZT also hassles it. So the first question is, Would these recreational drugs do it too? The short answer is, I don't know...but why take the chance?
Next, would these drugs interfere with anti-HIV medicines? The answer is, "Yes". There are Lancet and Archives of Internal Medicine articles about the deadly blend of MDMA or GHB (Gamma-HydroxyButrate) with Protease Inhibitors. The liver detoxes most psychotropic medicines, prescription or otherwise, so taking such drugs, together with the PI's overloads the liver and it can't do its job fully.
Lastly, the effect on the immune system might be considered. LSD and other recreational drugs have been linked to a significantly higher risk of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in an HIV-negative population in the Los Angeles area. Since this disease is already on the rise in immune-deficient Poz people, it may be safe to speculate that there could be a compounding of risk factors. In other words, when you're walking a tightrope, who needs a push?
