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From: Rob.Carr@f53.n129.z1.fidonet.org (Rob Carr)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Re: AIDS drugs under pressure
Message-ID: <1991Jan24.134134.29590@cs.ucla.edu>
Date: 24 Jan 91 13:12:17 GMT
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 GO> I would think the sort of questions one would need to answer
 GO> are: are these drugs only stable within a certain range of
 GO> pressure? If so, what is that range? ..Or is it fairly quick
 GO> pressure changes that upset stability? How much of a change in
 GO> pressure can mean bad things? What is the chance that bad
 GO> things will happen? .. Then, what are the pressure levels or
 GO> what is the change in pressure at certain depths when scuba
 GO> diving?

As a person who is unable to dive because of ear problems, let me just point
out that when I was trying to learn to scuba dive, it was recommended that
no drugs be used at all when diving.  Not because the drugs change at
pressure but because the response of the brain to the drugs at pressure does
change.  Nitrogen narcosis has some very interesting CNS effects.  To throw
drugs that have CNS effects (even very mild ones) on top of this can be very
dangerous.  A friend who takes neuroleptics is not permitted to dive for this
reason.  Either the drugs might foul him up or the drugs might quit working
and he'd have a psychotic episode at 3 atmospheres.  Either way, not cool.

I could make some educated guesses re: HIV and diving, but they would only
be guesses.  I would say that if you are already exibiting CNS-type effects
from HIV or the drugs that diving would be absolutely contraindicated.
Beyond that....  Remember that when you dive, if you are in any way impaired,
you endanger not only yourself but your partner.  Always dive with a buddy.

BTW: it's about 1 additional atmosphere for about every 33ft down.  i.e. 66
feet would be 3 atmospheres, 120 feet (deepest recommended for most sport
diving) would be near 5 atmospheres.  It builds up rapidly.  BBTW: don't
forget 1 atmosphere at sea level.

... Subscribe to The Journal of [CENSORED] New name TBA  $8.00/yr

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