Patient willingness to undergo efavirenz dose reduction based on pharmacogenetic testing. (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mitchell, Margaret; Wells, Caroline; Zhang, Xuechao; Hughes, Joshua; White, Je'Purde; Nash, Robertson; Haas, David W
• Is Part Of: Personalized medicine. Volume 13:Number 3(2016)
• Page Start: 241
• Page End: 247
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: CYP2B6 -- efavirenz -- HIV -- pharmacogenomics -- pharmacokinetics; Pharmacogenomics -- Periodicals; Pharmacogenetics -- Periodicals; 615.19
• DOI: 10.2217/pme-2015-0011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1741-0541

Abstract

Aim: Among HIV-infected adults receiving efavirenz fixed-dose combination tablets, genotyping could guide efavirenz dose reduction but would require more pills.Methods: We assessed willingness to dose reduce among 129 patients at an HIV primary care clinic in the southeastern USA.Results: When told that switching from one pill to two or three pills "might make you feel a little better", 47% expressed definite or possible willingness. This decreased to 9% if there was "a small chance it might not control your HIV as well". Clinical variables were not associated with willingness.Conclusion: Many patients receiving a fixed-dose combination tablet may be willing to take more pills in order to dose reduce, guided by genetic testing, but only if virologic control is not compromised.