Delhi man in critical condition after following AI advice on preventive HIV drugs

HIV

• Delhi man critical after taking HIV drugs on AI advice without prescription
• Doctors warn against self-medication and relying on AI for medical decisions
• Patient developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare and dangerous drug reaction

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A 45-year-old man from Delhi is in critical condition after taking HIV preventive medicines on the advice of an AI chat platform, doctors have said. The man developed a rare and dangerous drug reaction that can be life-threatening.

According to a report by the Times of India, the man took the medicines after a high-risk sexual encounter. Instead of consulting a doctor, he followed advice generated by an AI platform and bought the drugs directly from a local chemist without a prescription.

The medicines he took are known as HIV post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP. These drugs are used to reduce the risk of HIV infection after a possible exposure, such as unprotected sex or sharing needles. Doctors say PEP must be started within 72 hours of exposure and should only be taken under medical supervision. In some cases, the treatment is stopped early if tests show there is no risk of infection.

In this case, doctors said the man bought a full 28-day course of the medicines and started taking them on his own. He reportedly took the drugs for seven days before he began to develop rashes on his body. His condition worsened over time, and he started facing eye-related problems and other complications.

The man visited several hospitals for treatment before he was finally admitted to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi. Doctors there diagnosed him with Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare but serious reaction to certain medicines. The condition can cause severe damage to the skin, eyes, mouth, and other parts of the body and often requires intensive care.

A senior doctor at the hospital said the patient’s condition is critical and that the medical team is focusing on managing the drug reaction. Stevens-Johnson syndrome can take a long time to treat, and recovery depends on how severe the reaction is and how quickly treatment begins.

Doctors say the case highlights the dangers of self-medication and relying on AI platforms for medical advice. While AI tools can share general information, they are not doctors and cannot replace proper medical consultation.

Health experts are also raising concerns about how easily strong medicines can be bought without prescriptions. They warn that HIV preventive drugs are powerful and should never be taken without guidance from a qualified doctor.

Doctors are advising people to seek medical help immediately after any possible HIV exposure and not depend on online or AI-generated advice for treatment decisions. As this case shows, taking the wrong medicine without supervision can have serious and even life-threatening consequences.