Medication use patterns in HIV-positive patients.
Patients with HIV infection or AIDS often receive several medications for treatment or prevention of their primary disease and/or associated complications. The objective of this study was to document patterns of drug use in an HIV-positive, outpatient population. Data were collected via one-on-one interviews with 26 HIV-positive patients; prescription and non-prescription drug use, adverse drug reactions and drug allergies were recorded. Anti-retroviral therapy was received by over 90 % of the patients. Over 90% of patients were on anti-infective agents, commonly cotrimoxazole or dapsone, while 27% received acyclovir. At least 70% of patients used three or more prescription medications concurrently. Every patient reported self-medicating with at least one over-the-counter (OTC) product and over half used three or more OTC products concurrently. Adverse reactions, mainly attributable to zidovudine, were reported by over 80% of patients. Non-compliance was a common drug-related issue; over 70% of patients omitted drug doses. In conclusion, the use of multiple medications in the ambulatory HIV-positive patients presents the health care team with potential drug-related problems that may ultimately affect the efficacy and toxicity of therapy. Thus pharmacists may play an active role in the provision of direct care to these patients.
Chow
R
R
Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto.
Chin
T
T
Fong
I W
IW
Bendayan
R
R
D000328:Adult; D003625:Data Collection; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D009864:Ontario; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D010045:Outpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010607:Pharmacy Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*