title: [Pharmacological strategies to improve the adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  adherence to antiretroviral therapy is an important factor in achieving human immunodeficiency virus suppression. The aim was to apply a pharmacological strategy, based in pharmacokinetics measures for improving the adherence to antiretroviral therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We did a descriptive study for eight months in 75 human immunodeficiency virus positive patients with clinical and social criteria for highly active antiretroviral therapy in Opuwo, Namibia. Pharmacological aspects, such as major side effects and dangerous drug-drug interactions, were evaluated. Descriptive statistics analysis were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  three minor side effects were detected (two for efavirenz and one for nevirapine), and one major side effect for stavudine/lamivudine. Dangerous drug interactions were avoided doing pharmacokinetics measures with efavirenz, stavudine/lamivudine and zidovudine; and between nevirapine and fluconazol or ketoconazol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  the adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy was improved with the application of the proposed pharmacological strategy to avoid side effects and dangerous drug interactions.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Toxicología y Biomedicina, Universidad de Ciencias Médicas, Santiago de Cuba, Cuba. oneyda.clape@medired.scu.sld.cu.
authors.forename: Oneyda
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Clapé-Laffita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: adverse effects; highly active antiretroviral therapy