Drug interactions between statins and antiretroviral agents.

Curr Opin HIV AIDS

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Published: May 2008

Purpose Of Review: Both antiretroviral agents and statins are well known for their independent roles in causing drug-drug interactions.

Recent Findings: Not surprisingly, combined use of statins and antiretroviral agents may lead to a variety of clinically relevant drug-drug interactions, including reduced lipid-lowering effects (as a result from increased metabolism of statins) as well as an increased risk of potentially fatal rhabdomyolysis (as a result of reduced metabolism of the statin or impaired hepatic uptake). Initially, attention has focused on the cytochrome P450 system as being the source of the observed drug-drug interactions, but nowadays it is clear that other pathways, such as UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and the organic anion polypeptide B transporter, may also be involved. Here we review current literature on statin-antiretroviral interactions. The review is preceded by a brief overview of pharmacokinetic properties of antiretroviral agents and statins.

Summary: Clinically relevant interactions between statins and antiretroviral agents do occur. The clinical relevance relates to an increased risk of statin-induced toxicity or reduced lipid-lowering activity of the statin. The information listed in this review should help the clinician to select the most appropriate combination. Whenever needed it is recommended to consult a clinical pharmacologist or pharmacist.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/COH.0b013e3282fbaa54DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

antiretroviral agents
20
statins antiretroviral
12
interactions statins
8
statins well
8
clinically relevant
8
drug-drug interactions
8
reduced lipid-lowering
8
increased risk
8
statins
5
antiretroviral
5

Similar Publications

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!