Associated factors of drug–drug interactions of highly active antiretroviral therapy: report from a referral center

Abstract

Objective: To assess different aspects of potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs) including incidence, severity, level of evidence and probable associated factors in Iranian HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Methods: All adult HIV-infected patients under highly active antiretroviral therapy regimen attending a referral HIV clinic during 1 year were screened retrospectively for potential moderate or severe DDIs by the Lexi-Interact On-Desktop software.

Results: Near seventy percent (69.89%) of detected DDIs in our population were major. The three most common detected potential DDIs were efavirenz + methadone (11 cases), lopinavir-ritonavir + sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, (10 cases) and lamivudine + ribavirin (7 cases). Lopinavir-ritonavir (27.96%) and citalopram (23.66%) were the most common offending antiretroviral and non-antiretroviral agents, respectively.

Conclusion: Performing multicenter and prospective studies is warranted to assess the real clinical as well as economic impacts of DDIs on HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral agents in our population and also to develop efficient preventive strategies.

Keywords:

• drug–drug interactions
• highly active antiretroviral therapy
• human immunodeficiency virus
• Iran

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.