Skip to main content

Table 5 Description of adverse events that are likely related to antiretroviral therapy

From: Cost analysis of HIV treatment and drug-related adverse events when fixed-dose combinations of antiretrovirals (FDCs) were stopped, versus continuation with FDCs

Adverse events

Severity (grade)

Resources consumed for the management of the adverse event

Non-exposed group (n = 150)

  

1. Dizziness after an error in taking AtriplaTM

1

-

2. Neuropsychiatric: insomnia, anxiety, and abnormal dreams*

1

-

Exposed group (n = 75)

  

1. Neuropsychiatric: dizziness

2

-

2. Neuropsychiatric: insomnia, abnormal dreams*

2

-

3. Neuropsychiatric: depression, insomnia*

1

-

4. Neuropsychiatric: insomnia

2

Infectious disease consult

5. Diarrhoea

2

-

6. Vomiting

2

-

7. Hepatic toxicity

4

Specialist and nursing consults, hospital admissions, chest x-rays, abdominal ultrasound, and hepatic biopsy

8. Neuropsychiatric: dizziness, insomnia, and abnormal dreams*

2

-

9. Neuropsychiatric: insomnia, anxiety, loss of concentration, abnormal dreams, and HIV encephalopathy after stopping treatment*

4

Infectious disease consults, hospital admissions, cranial CAT scan, cerebral MRI, and lumbar puncture

10. Neuropsychiatric: dizziness

1

-

11. Psychiatric: depression, insomnia, anxiety, abnormal dreams, and hallucinations*

3

Emergency department admission, mental health consult

12. Hepatic toxicity

3

Infectious disease consult, nursing, biochemistry, serology, and abdominal ultrasound

13. Neuropsychiatric: dizziness, insomnia, headache, and abnormal dreams*

2

Infectious disease consult

14. Diarrhoea

2

-

  1. *Patients with more than one type of neuropsychiatric adverse event. The grade of the more severe AE is specified.