Marihuana for AIDS Wasting

Cachexia, weight loss, and muscular wasting are characteristics of advanced infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Death usually occurs when 20% of total body weight is lost. Usually, when an individual develops this syndrome, commonly known as AIDS wasting, it is a poor prognostic sign for survival. The impact of modern treatments for AIDS infections with antiretroviral drugs and protease inhibitors has had a positive impact to increase long-term survival with the disease. AIDS wasting is now becoming much less common The pathogenesis of AIDS wasting involves poor appetite, inefficient use of caloric intake because of intercurrent diseases, medication-induced gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), and the effect of HIV infection itself on muscle and tissue breakdown (1,2).