"METHADONE TREATMENT INCREASES ZIDOVUDINE LEVELS IN HIV-INFECTED SUBJECTS"

Research by Dr. Ellinore F. McCance-Katz of the VA Healthcare System in
West Haven and associates at Yale University shows that patients who
receive treatment with both methadone and zidovudine may be at risk for
high levels of zidovudine exposure. The report, published in the August
15th issue of the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human
Retrovirology, found that chronic methadone treatment increased zidovudine
levels for eight HIV-positive patients who received either oral or
intravenous zidovudine. The patients could be at risk for side effects
from the increased levels. The researchers suggest that further research
be conducted to examine the interaction between zidovudine and opioids and
determine whether other substances, such as cocaine, alcohol, and nicotine,
have similar effects.

Checked-by: Richard Lake