Drugs & Therapy Perspectives

Deeks, Emma D.

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0224-ypmid: N/A

Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (tenofovir DF) [Eviplera® (EU); Complera® (USA)] is a convenient and effective addition to the other single-tablet regimens currently available for the treatment of HIV-1 infection. Once-daily emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir DF was noninferior to once-daily emtricitabine/efavirenz/tenofovir DF in establishing virological suppression in treatment-naïve adults. Switching to the once-daily single tablet maintained virological suppression and was noninferior to remaining on a more complex multiple-tablet regimen in treatment-experienced patients already virologically suppressed with an antiretroviral regimen and without prior virological failure. Emtricitabine/rilpivirine/tenofovir DF was generally well tolerated, with a more favourable overall tolerability profile than emtricitabine/efavirenz/tenofovir DF.

McCormack, Paul L.

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0226-9pmid: N/A

Oral dolutegravir (Tivicay®) is a new-generation HIV-1 integrase strand transfer inhibitor approved as a component of antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1 infection in adolescents and adults. It may be administered once daily, does not require pharmacokinetic boosting, has a high barrier to resistance and is generally active against viral strains resistant to first-generation integrase inhibitors. In clinical trials in treatment-naïve or -experienced patients, dolutegravir was noninferior or superior to raltegravir-, efavirenz-and darunavir/ritonavir-based combinations with regard to viral suppression at week 48, and was generally well tolerated.

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0221-1pmid: N/A

The optimal management of Lyme disease involves the use of antibacterials as prophylaxis and to treat manifestations of the disease. Treatment guidelines offer somewhat conflicting recommendations due to the absence of strong and compelling clinical evidence regarding the treatment of this disease. Ultimate treatment decisions should be made by the physician based on clinical judgement and the individual patient’s circumstances.

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0218-9pmid: N/A

Acute repetitive seizures are a serious epilepsy condition that may progress to status epilepticus. Prompt out-of-hospital treatment is vital and usually involves oral, rectal, intramuscular or intranasal administration of benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam, midazolam, lorazepam) by nonmedical caregivers. The choice of benzodiazepine and mode of administration should take into account disease severity, patient age, physical condition, individual factors and patient preference.

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0210-4pmid: N/A

Despite the common practice of modern aseptic technique and the increasing use of azo dye-based inks, decorative tattoos are frequently complicated by infectious, inflammatory or neoplastic conditions. Moreover, as the number of people receiving tattoos increases, the number of tattoo-related complications reported can be expected to rise.

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0228-7pmid: N/A

doi: 10.1007/s40267-015-0209-xpmid: N/A

Although alcohol (ethanol) is one of the most widely used legal drugs in the world, it appears to be involved with a relatively limited number of clinically significant pharmacokinetic drug interactions. Few drugs seem to interfere with the metabolism of alcohol, and alcohol appears to primarily alter the pharmacokinetics of other drugs by altering absorption. In the currently available formal studies that evaluated pharmacodynamic interactions between alcohol and other agents (primarily CNS and cardiovascular drugs), the most commonly reported clinically relevant symptoms included sedation, tachycardia and general increased intoxication.