Evidence-Based Guidelines: Use of Antiepileptic Drugs in Patients with HIV/AIDS

Interactions between AEDs and antiretrovirals can decrease the effectiveness of both medications.

Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are used frequently in patients with HIV infection to treat epilepsy, reactive seizures symptomatic of opportunistic infections, and, increasingly, symptomatic peripheral neuropathy. Enzyme-inducing AEDs (EI AEDs) are of particular concern because of the high likelihood of significant interactions with antiretroviral (ARV) medications and more-frequent use in low- to middle-income countries.

Now, the first evidence-based guidelines on AED use in patients with HIV infection have been created by a joint panel of the American Academy of Neurology, the International League Against Epilepsy, and the WHO. The panel conducted a systematic review of evidence from 1950 through 2010 to estimate the prevalence of AED-ARV coad…

Reviewing Author

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)

Robert C. Knowlton, MD, MSPH

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardMore Health, Inc.; The Alliance of Medical Companies

Grant/Research SupportNIH Small Business Innovation Research

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSouthern Epilepsy & EEG Society (Treasurer)