Interactions Between SSRIs and Antiretroviral Therapy

Authors: DeSilva KE, Le Flore DB, Marston BJ, Rimland D.

Title: Serotonin syndrome in HIV-infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy and fluoxetine.

Source: AIDS. 15(10):1281-5, 2001 Jul 6.

Summary of Abstract Info: Five case studies of HIV-positive patients who were receiving antiretroviral therapy and antidepressants and presented with symptoms consistent with serotonin syndrome. Antidepressant medications were either discontinued or doses were decreased in order to resolve the symptoms. It was concluded that since protease inhibitors and non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors are known to inhibit P450 enzymes, serotonin syndrome should be suspected in patients on concomitant treatment with serotonergic agents and presenting with symptoms such as mental status changes, neuromuscular abnormalities and autonomic dysfunction.

Contributed by Linda Catanzaro, Pharm D.

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