Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction study between raltegravir and citalopram.

Background: Depression is the most common mental health disorder among HIV-infected patients. When treating HIV-infected patients with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), potential drug-drug interactions with antiretroviral agents have to be taken into account. We investigated the two-way pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction and tolerability of concomitant administration of the SSRI citalopram and the HIV-1 integrase inhibitor raltegravir in healthy volunteers.

Raltegravir in HIV-1-Infected Pregnant Women: Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy.

Background: The use of raltegravir in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected pregnant women is important in the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, especially in circumstances when a rapid decline of HIV RNA load is warranted or when preferred antiretroviral agents cannot be used. Physiological changes during pregnancy can reduce antiretroviral drug exposure. We studied the effect of pregnancy on the pharmacokinetics of raltegravir and its safety and efficacy in HIV-infected pregnant women.

Lack of a clinically significant drug-drug interaction in healthy volunteers between the HCV protease inhibitor boceprevir and the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole.

Objectives: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can limit the solubility of concomitant drugs, which can lead to decreased absorption and exposure. Reduced efficacy can be a consequence and in the case of an antimicrobial agent this may contribute to development of resistance. Patients chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus can be treated with a boceprevir-containing regimen and it is relevant to know if interactions between PPIs and boceprevir exist.

Lack of a clinically significant drug-drug interaction in healthy volunteers between the hepatitis C virus protease inhibitor boceprevir and the HIV integrase inhibitor raltegravir.

Background: Patients coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are likely to use both HIV and HCV treatment. Drug-drug interactions have been demonstrated between boceprevir, an HCV protease inhibitor, and frequently prescribed antiretroviral drugs, such as efavirenz and boosted HIV protease inhibitors. Concomitant administration of boceprevir with these drugs should be avoided.

Quantification of levetiracetam in plasma of neonates by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive and specific method using ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was developed for the determination of levetiracetam (LEV) in plasma of neonates. A plasma aliquot of 50 microl was deproteinized by addition of 500 microl methanol which contained 5 microg/ml UCB 17025 as an internal standard. After centrifugation, 50 microl of supernatant was diluted with 1000 microl of 0.

CYP2D6*4, CYP3A5*3 and ABCB1 3435T polymorphisms and drug-related falls in elderly people.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the association between CYP2D6*4, CYP3A5*3 and ABCB1 3435T polymorphisms and drug-related falls.

Method: Multivariate logistic regression was performed in an existing database in order to study the association between falls history and CYP2D6*4, CYP3A5*3, ABCB1 3435T polymorphisms in patients using fall-risk-increasing CYP2D6, CYP3A5 and P-glycoprotein (gene product of ABCB1) substrates.

Results: No statistically significant increased fall risk was found in 'poor metabolizers' compared to 'extensive' and 'intermediate metabolizers' using fall-risk-increasing CYP2D6 substrates (Odds ratio (OR) = 2.

Use of oral ketamine in chronic pain management: a review.

The analgesic effect of ketamine is primarily based on the antagonism of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Activation of NMDA receptors may play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of chronic pain. Little formal research has been performed on the efficacy and safety of ketamine in chronic pain, especially concerning long-term oral administration.