Tuberculosis or TB is a serious health concern, especially when coupled with HIV. People with HIV are more likely to become sick if they are coinfected with TB.
It is estimated that up to 13 million people in the United States have latent tuberculosis. In 2020, 6960 individuals who had diagnoses of active TB had HIV. The consequences of untreated TB, along with HIV, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality. Medication initiation in healthcare for the management of TB and HIV tends to be complex because concomitant drug interactions may affect treatment.
Rifamycin derivatives have the potential to cause drug-drug interactions through enzymatic and/or transported induction with first-line agents for HIV treatment, as well as those newly approved. Because of drug-drug interactions, consulting a reliable compounding pharmacy must first be done.
Before, tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) has been contraindicated with rifamycin. However, new pharmacokinetic data suggest that concurrent therapy with TAF may now be acceptable. This is important because TAF is often a key component of many first-line regimens for patients who just received a diagnosis of TB. Other drugs for the treatment of HIV, like fostemsavir, are also contraindicated with rifampin. Consult our pharmacy in Highland Park, New Jersey to know more about these drug-drug interactions.
While managing drug-drug interactions in HIV/TB coinfection can be complex, new studies and published recommendations are available as resources for everyone to be safe. Call Unite Pharmacy today to know more! We also offer medication supplies in Highland Park, New Jersey.
