Efavirenz trough levels are not associated with virological failure throughout therapy with 800 mg daily and a rifampicin-containing antituberculosis regimen

Abstract

Given the lack of a demonstrated relationship between efavirenz Cmin and its efficacy in our study, a firm recommendation cannot be made to always increase the dose to 800 mg/day when concomitantly given with rifampicin, but it seems a cautious approach to maintain the same efavirenz plasma levels as with 600 mg daily without rifampicin. Patients weighing<55 kg and also black, Asian and Hispanic subjects in whom genetic-based increased efavirenz plasma levels and rates of AEs have been observed may benefit from a dose of 600 mg.