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Drug metabolism refers to the chemical conversion of a compound, catalyzed by enzymes. The resulting compound is generally less toxic, more water soluble, and/or can be more easily excreted. However, metabolism can also generate more active or toxic substances.
In patients with HIV, drug metabolism can be particularly problematic. Many antiretroviral agents share similar metabolic pathways with commonly prescribed drugs, and in some instances, this can lead to clinically important drug interactions. Interactions between antiretrovirals and other agents can increase side effects or decrease drug effectiveness, but can be used to the patient's advantage as well.
In the liver, the major site of drug metabolism, biotransformation is a 2-phase pro…