HAART

• According to a study performed by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, asthma tends to be more common in HIV-positive children being treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy, or HAART. Since such drugs revive the immune system, asthma becomes more likely to develop as the body responds quickly to triggers like mold, pollen and dander, all of which are asthma risk factors.
  
  

Montelukast

• Leukotriene receptor antagonists are drugs that inhibit leukotrienes, which are fatty compounds produced by the immune system that cause inflammation in asthma. One such drug, known as montelukast, used for asthma treatment has been experimented with by doctors at the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead, England. It can be taken as tablets, chewable tablets and oral granules. Results included a quick and sustained improvement in patients with HIV and asthma. Patients in the study were on HAART at the same time as montelukast and no adverse affects were witnessed. Other leukotriene modifiers, like the tablets zafirlukast and zileuton, can be taken as well.
  
  

Steroid Treatments

• HIV-positive asthma patients who are being treated with inhaled corticosteroids or long-acting beta-2 agonists, such as fluticasone, budesonide, triamcinolone, flunisolide, salmeterol, formoterol or beclomethasone, should continue their treatments, but with caution. Adrenal suppression, or an insufficiency of steroid hormone production in the adrenal glands, has been witnessed in patients on these asthma treatments, so HAART patients should be wary. Inform your physician about your medications so they can be controlled properly.
  
  

Atazanavir

• This asthma medication has been tested on HIV-positive patients with successful results. Doctors recommend using atazanavir, an HIV protease inhibitor, along with the HIV medication ritonavir for the highest effectiveness. Combinations of medications prevent viral resistance to the drugs being taken. If atazanavir is taken without ritonavir, it is possible that blood levels of atazanavir will be too low to produce any positive results. While atazanavir is technically a drug approved for treating HIV, use for asthma treatment is considered an "off-label" use.
  
  

Advair

• One of the most common asthma medications is Advair. This medicine contains ritonavir, which has the potential to increase levels of fluticasone, the steroid in Advair. Dr. Joel Gallant of Johns Hopkins University says, "This could increase the risk of Cushing's syndrome, or of drug-induced adrenal insufficiency." Any steroid use, however, has the potential to create such side effects. This being the case, Gallant says that "you need to be aware that when combining these drugs, you're taking more steroid than you would be otherwise....They can always harm your health, regardless of HIV status." Fortunately, the doctor adds, "As for immunosuppression, it's never been shown that it's a bigger problem in HIV-positive people who take steroids."