The present invention is based, in part, upon the discovery that the use of an anti-HIV drug in combination with at least one cortisol blocker such as procaine, reduces the side effects associated with anti-HIV drugs. The invention also relates to a method of treating the high cortisol catabolic effects of diseases such as AIDS in the HIV positive population and those with AIDS related complexes by the administration of a cortisol blocker. The present invention also discloses a composition comprising an anti-HIV drug and cortisol blocker. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cortisol blocking composition which comprises procaine, ascorbic acid and zinc heptahydrate.