Recurrence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms after initiation of antiretrovirals including efavirenz: a report of two cases.
BACKGROUND
Some antiretrovirals has been reported to cause a wide range of psychiatric symptoms. However, reappearance of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms has not been described in relation to these medications.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
The Boston Medical Center, a tertiary care academic centre.


RESULTS
Two HIV-infected refugees re-experienced symptoms of PTSD after starting therapy with efavirenz (EFV) and zidovudine (ZDV). The two patients had no typical factors present to account for the PTSD exacerbation. In both patients, the symptoms of PTSD gradually subsided to baseline within the first 4 weeks of antiretroviral treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that EFV, a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, with ZDV, may be manifesting its known neuropsychiatric toxicities in a heretofore unreported presentation of PTSD exacerbation.
Moreno
A
A
The Boston Center for Refugee Health and Human Rights, The Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. almoreno@massmed.org
Labelle
C
C
Samet
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010078:Oxazines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012008:Recurrence; D012036:Refugees; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000139:chemically induced*; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000009:adverse effects
D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D048588:Benzoxazines; D003521:Cyclopropanes; D010078:Oxazines; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D015215:Zidovudine; C098320:efavirenz