Combination Therapy: A Word of Caution

Combination Therapy

A Word of Caution

By Jules Levin, Executive Director of NATAP

CAUTION:

It may be dangerous to experiment with combining protease inhibitors until results are available from trials actually studying the particular combination you may be considering. There are two concerns:

the safety concern--incorrect dose combinations may result in dangerous drug levels in your body;
the efficacy concern--incorrect dose combinations could result in sub-optimal antiviral efficacy and decrease future response to protease inhibitor therapy, including potential future benefit from these combinations.

There is insufficient information currently available regarding safe and efficacious dosing combinations of ritonavir with saquinavir or other protease inhibitors; nor is there adequate information for safe and effective dosing regimens of combining indinavir with saquinavir. For example, increasing the blood levels of indinavir, from combination with ritonavir, could dangerously magnify the potential for side effects and drug interactions associated with indinavir (kidney stones, elevated bilirubin).

About the author: Jules Levin is the Executive Director of NATAP, based in New York City.

The National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Project (NATAP) is a New York State non-profit corporation dedicated to facilitating the effort for development of effective treatment for HIV.

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