ASCORBATE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR AIDS

ASCORBATE TREATMENT PROTOCOL FOR AIDS PATIENTS The following protocol is recommended for AIDS and AIDS related conditions including lymphadenopathy, idiopathic thrombo- cytopenia purpura, and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

As predicted, AIDS patients are usually capable of ingesting large doses of ascorbate. It is desirable that the amount of ascorbate taken orally be maximized. Patients are -titrated to bowel tolerance- (the amount that almost, but not quite, causes diarrhea). A -balanced ascorbate- mixture is utilized which is made up of a mixture of approximately 25% buffered ascorbate salts (calcium, magnesium, and potassium ascorbate) and 75% ascorbic acid. This mixture is dissolved in a small amount of water and taken at least every hour. The purpose of the frequent doses and this balanced mixture is to maximize the amount of ascorbate tolerated without producing diarrhea. Patients are permitted to vary the percentage of ascorbate salts to straight ascorbic acid according to taste. The usual amount tolerated initially is between 40 and 100 grams per 24 hours. -Doses in excess of 100 grams per 24 hours may be necessary with secondary bacterial and viral infections-. As the patient's condition improves, bowel tolerance will decrease.

When intravenous ascorbate is found necessary because the toxicity of the condition exceeds the ability of the patient to take adequate amounts of ascorbate to scavenge all of the free radicals created by the primary AIDS infection and the various secondary infections, the following intravenous solutions should be utilized. Sodium ascorbate buffered to a pH 7.4 and without preservatives is added to sterile water in a concentration of 60 grams per 500 cc. This concentration is twice the concentration I have recommended before because it is well tolerated in young males with large veins. Patients with small veins may be best treated with solutions of 60 grams per liter. The time of the infusions should be over at least a 3 hour period, preferably longer. As much as daily administration of 3 bottles, 180 grams per 24 hours, may be necessary in acutely ill patients, e.g. Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, disseminated herpes, disseminated cytomegalovirus, and atypical pneumonia. Enough ascorbate should be administered to detoxify the patient regardless of the amount needed. Additionally, oral doses of ascorbate should be taken simultaneously with the intravenous ascorbate. -Do not let the patients become lazy and discontinue bowel tolerance doses of ascorbate while the intravenous ascorbate is being administered-.

INTESTINAL PARASITES If the AIDS patient has intestinal parasites, he must be treated for them. There is a very high percentage of male homo- sexuals infected with intestinal parasites. These intestinal parasites are themselves very immunosuppressive. The prognosis for an AIDS patient is greatly enhanced by proper treatment of these parasites. -Entamoeba histolytica-, especially, and -Giardia lamblia- must be treated. Intestinal parasites, ordinarily considered -non-pathogens-, should be treated. If negative, repeated stool examinations for ova and parasites should be taken if there is the slightest clinical sign of intestinal parasite infection. Samples should be fresh, not over 2 hours old. Laxatives may increase chances of discovering the parasites. Additional samples may have to be taken through a sigmoidoscope if other specimens are negative for ova and parasites. With treatment, Herxheimer's reactions should be expected frequently. Symptoms, including Kaposi's lesions, may be exacerbated, despite the ascorbate, during treatment for intestinal parasites.