Antiretroviral therapy for drug users

Injection drug use represents the primary risk factor for up to 40% of pati ents with HIV infection. Physicians are generally reluctant to prescribe an tiretroviral therapy (ART) for these patients due to possible poor adherenc e, and the potential for complex drug interactions to occur. Providing dail y observed ART in conjunction with methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has significantly improved accessibility of ART for many drug users. Knowledge of potential drug interactions between methadone, ART, and both legally and illegally prescribed drugs has permitted such interactions to be anticipat ed and either avoided or treated appropriately. Optimizing ART for drug use rs therefore demands a multidisciplinary approach from medical, clinical ph armacology and psychiatric services.