Adverse drug reactions and quality of life in HIV/AIDS patients: Advocacy on valuation and role of pharmacovigilance in developing countries

Discussion Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are widely accepted as one of the most significant factors affecting the treatment outcomes which often pose negative impact on patients’ quality of life. This becomes more evident in the treatment of chronic illnesses such as HIV & AIDS, where ADRs are often accountable for issues like non-adherence, which may not only affect the patients’ confidence on ARVs but can eventually affect the whole outcome of the treatment. There is no doubt about the effectiveness of interdisciplinary approach in managing chronic illnesses and a greater role of pharmacist is regarded as one of the key factors in optimizing drug treatment and handling issues related to drug therapy. However disparities among developed and developing health care system is posing challenges in handling medication related issues in developing world. Summary Indeed, to use medications effectively, we need to understand more precisely the realities of toxicity and the effect of these toxicities on clinical outcomes. Pharmacists are well known for their importance and effectiveness in optimizing medication therapy which in turns impact positively on patients’ quality of life.
Source: HIV and AIDS Review - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research