Stribild and Prezista shouldn’t be coadministered without the specific need for treatment intensification. The resulting interactions may be moderate to severe according to the dosages involved [1], thus close monitoring of the patient’s condition is required.
Stribild is an FDA approved drug used to treat HIV in adults and kids 12 years of age or older who meet certain requirements. Stribild is a single-tab regimen that contains four components:
Stribild helps reduce the amount of the virus in the body. This means that your immune system strengthens and reduces the risk of developing diseases caused by HIV. The drug does not cure HIV infection.
Prezista, or darunavir, is a prescription drug used for the treatment of HIV infection in adults and children 3 years of age and older. It is approved by the FDA and is always used in combination with ritonavir and other HIV drugs to boost its levels. Darunavir is classified as a protease inhibitor [3]. It does not cure HIV but helps manage it and reduces the risk of transmission. The medicine should not be used by children below 3 years of age because of the increased risk of adverse side effects associated with the drug.
Both Stribild and Prezista contain ingredients that are HIV inhibitors. The action mechanisms of these two drugs are different though.
Coadministration of tenofovir and darunavir may cause an increase in plasma concentrations of each other. Increased plasma concentration of tenofovir may amplify the risk of elevated creatinine, renal impairment, and renal failure [4]. Although the mechanism of interaction is unknown, a high concentration of tenofovir may be involved in the inhibition of P-glycoprotein by cobicistat, ritonavir, or darunavir in the renal tubules. Estimated creatinine levels may be decreased by cobicistat through inhibition of creatinine secretion in the renal tubules. Therefore the state of the kidneys must be monitored closely in case of administering Stribild and Prezista together if the special need arises. The decision should be made only by a professional medical specialist.