COVID-19: A Review of Potential Treatments (Corticosteroids, Remdesivir, Tocilizumab, Bamlanivimab/Etesevimab, and Casirivimab/Imdevimab) and Pharmacological Considerations.

: In light of the ongoing global pandemic, this paper reviews data on a number of potential and approved agents for COVID-19 disease management, including corticosteroids, remdesivir, tocilizumab, and monoclonal antibody combinations. Dose considerations, potential drug-drug interactions, and access issues are discussed. : Remdesivir is the first antiviral agent approved for the treatment of COVID-19, based on results from large clinical trials showing reduction in recovery time, faster clinical improvement, and decrease in time to discharge with remdesivir.

Getting to the Heart of the Matter: A Review of Drug Interactions Between HIV Antiretrovirals and Cardiology Medications.

The past 20 years have seen remarkable advances in the treatment of HIV such that most people diagnosed with HIV today can live long, healthy lives by taking antiretrovirals which are usually life-long. Advancements in antiretroviral therapy include the availability of well tolerated, single tablet regimens that are associated with a lower risk of drug-drug interactions. Despite this, many people living with HIV infection might be taking antiretroviral agents that are associated with significant drug-drug interactions.

Significant interaction between activated charcoal and antiretroviral therapy leading to subtherapeutic drug concentrations, virological breakthrough and development of resistance.

A 42-year-old, treatment-experienced woman, virologically suppressed on tenofovir/emtricitabine and boosted atazanavir, experienced virological breakthrough, drop in CD4(+) T-cell count and undetectable drug concentrations. Adherence to treatment was confirmed, but repeat testing yielded similar results. After 2 months, the patient stated that she had been taking activated charcoal to manage gastrointestinal symptoms associated with her combination antiretroviral therapy, but she had recently discontinued the charcoal.

Factors affecting antiretroviral pharmacokinetics in HIV-infected women with virologic suppression on combination antiretroviral therapy: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Although some studies show higher antiretroviral concentrations in women compared to men, data are limited. We conducted a cross-sectional study of HIV-positive women to determine if protease inhibitor (PI) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) C(min) and Cmax values were significantly different than historical general population (predominantly male) averages and to evaluate correlates of higher concentrations.

Methods: HIV-positive women with virologic suppression (viral load < 50copies/mL) on their first antiretroviral regimen were enrolled.

Randomized controlled trial of once-daily tenofovir, lamivudine, and lopinavir/ritonavir versus remaining on the same regimen in virologically suppressed HIV-infected patients on their first PI-containing HAART regimen.

Purpose: To assess the effects of switching to once-daily (QD) lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r)-based combination therapy in HIV-infected patients who are virologically suppressed (HIV viral load <50 copies/mL) on their first protease inhibitor (PI)-containing regimen.

Method: In this 48-week, prospective, open-label, randomized study, patients were either switched to once-daily LPV/r, tenofovir (TDF), and lamivudine (3TC) (QD arm) or remained on their existing regimen (control arm). The primary endpoint of the study was the proportion of patients maintaining virologic suppression following 48 weeks of treatment.

CD4+ cell count decline despite HIV suppression: a probable didanosine-valganciclovir interaction.

Objective: To describe a case of significant CD4+ cell decline despite complete viral suppression in an HIV-positive patient receiving didanosine and valganciclovir.

Case Summary: A 68-year-old woman diagnosed with HIV and cytomegalovirus (CMV) enteritis (CD4+ cell count 22 cells/mm(3), viral load 88,898 [4.95 log] copies/mL) was treated with valganciclovir and began lamivudine, didanosine, and lopinavir/ritonavir.

Steady-state pharmacokinetics and tolerability of indinavir-lopinavir/r combination therapy in antiretroviral-experienced patients.

Six HIV-positive antiretroviral experienced patients initiating therapy with a regimen including lopinavir/ritonavir (400/100 mg twice per day) and indinavir (800 mg twice per day) underwent steady-state pharmacokinetic analysis. The AUC0-12 h of indinavir when combined with lopinavir/ritonavir was comparable with previously published data on indinavir/ritonavir 800/100 mg twice per day in HIV-infected individuals. However, lopinavir AUC0-12 h, Cmax, and C12 h were lower than previously reported in the absence of indinavir.

Interactions between antiretrovirals and antineoplastic drug therapy.

Despite the established impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality, malignancy remains an important cause of death. Patients who receive the combination of cancer chemotherapy and HAART may achieve better response rates and higher rates of survival than patients who receive antineoplastic therapy alone. However, the likelihood of drug interactions with combined therapy is high, since protease inhibitors (PIs) and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are substrates and potent inhibitors or inducers of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system.

Evaluation of HIV drug interaction web sites.

Background: Clinicians frequently consult HIV drug interaction Web sites of unknown quality.

Objective: To systematically review and identify HIV drug interaction Web sites of high quality and usefulness for healthcare professionals.

Methods: Relevant Web sites were identified through a structured search on commonly used search engines.

Tenofovir: a nucleotide analog for the management of human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, an acyclic nucleotide analog of adenosine monophosphate, is the most recent addition to the antiretroviral arsenal. After conversion to tenofovir by diester hydrolysis, subsequent phosphorylation by cellular enzymes to form the active tenofovir diphosphate is necessary for antiretroviral activity. Preliminary data suggest that tenofovir is as safe and efficacious as stavudine when given in combination with lamivudine and efavirenz for the treatment of antiretroviral-naïve patients.

Interactions between recreational drugs and antiretroviral agents.

Objective: To summarize existing data regarding potential interactions between recreational drugs and drugs commonly used in the management of HIV-positive patients.

Data Sources: Information was obtained via a MEDLINE search (1966-August 2002) using the MeSH headings human immunodeficiency virus, drug interactions, cytochrome P450, medication names commonly prescribed for the management of HIV and related opportunistic infections, and names of commonly used recreational drugs. Abstracts of national and international conferences, review articles, textbooks, and references of all articles were also reviewed.