title: Practical psychopharmacology in HIV-1 and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
abstract: HIV-1 infection poses a challenge for psychiatrists of the medically ill. Many factors concerning the care of HIV-1-infected patients need to be considered when prescribing psychotropics. These include careful diagnosis, taking into account medical disorders associated with HIV-1 that can present with psychiatric symptoms, as well as medications that HIV-1 patients may be taking that can cause a variety of neuropsychiatric side effects. Another important issue is the potential for drug-illness interactions. In general, HIV-1 patients seem to be more sensitive to the development of adverse drug reactions than do non-HIV-1 patients, especially as the illness progresses. It is also important to be cognizant of the complex multidrug regimens that many HIV-1 patients are on to avoid known drug-drug interactions and be on the alert for other potential interactions when using psychotropic medications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. mjr4@post.queensu.ca
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Roula B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Qaqish
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology*; D015497:HIV-1; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs