Cannabinoid Use Unlikely to Affect Efficacy of HIV Therapy
Originally published by Reuters Health, March 20, 2002
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) — The use of cannabinoids by HIV-infected patients to manage wasting symptoms, stimulate appetite, and control medication side-effects, does not appear to impact antiretroviral efficacy.
Dr. Francesca T. Aweeka, from San Francisco General Hospital, and colleagues assessed the effects of cannabinoid use in 62 HIV-infected patients who received indinavir or nelfinavir as part of their treatment regimen. In each group, patients were randomized to receive marijuana cigarettes, dronabinol capsules, or placebo capsules.
After 14 days of treatment, marijuana cigarette use did not have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of nelfinavir. In contrast, use of such cigarettes did lead to a statistically significant decrease in the maximum concentration of indinavir (p = 0.039). However, the amount of change was unlikely to have any short-term clinical consequences.
Use of dronabinol capsules did not have a significant effect on the pharmacokinetics of either antiretroviral agent, the investigators note in the March 8th issue of AIDS.
"To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate the metabolic interaction of a Schedule I controlled substance with antiretroviral therapy," the authors note. "Based on our short-term findings, the use of marijuana and dronabinol is unlikely to effect antiretroviral efficacy," they conclude.
