Pharmacokinetic enhancers for HIV drugs.
Curr Opin Investig Drugs
; 10(8): 775-86, 2009 Aug.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19649922
ABSTRACT
The HIV protease inhibitor (PI) ritonavir is a potent, mechanism-based inhibitor of cytochrome P450 CYP3A4, an enzyme that is responsible for metabolizing most HIV PIs. Ritonavir is therefore able to enhance the effectiveness of PI treatment by reducing the pill burden, simplifying dosing regimens and improving therapy adherence. Ritonavir coadministration improves the pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles of concomitant PIs, and represents a cornerstone of PI-containing regimens. However, ritonavir is associated with undesirable side effects, such as gastrointestinal problems and lipid disturbances. This review summarizes salient features and limitations associated with the use of ritonavir as a PK enhancer, and briefly describes novel PK enhancers that are in development.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
HIV Protease Inhibitors
/
Ritonavir
/
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Curr Opin Investig Drugs
Journal subject:
TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS
Year:
2009
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: