New iPhone App Offers HIV Drug Info

HIV iChart screen shot (Univ. of Liverpool)

University of Liverpool in the U.K. has released an iPhone application (app), — HIV iChart — that provides access to information about drug interactions for both health care professionals and HIV patients. The HIV iChart app is based on the university’s HIV drug Web site that offers a comprehensive resource on potential drug interactions between anti-HIV drugs and other medications that a patient with the disease may be taking.

In HIV therapy, patients take a number of anti-HIV medication (antiretrovirals) and may also take other drugs to treat co-existing diseases. Interactions among these drugs can have an impact on the effectiveness of any of the medications taken by the patient, and may also influence the severity of their side effects. As a result, some drugs should not be taken, while others must be given with caution, possibly requiring adjustment or monitoring.

HIV iCharts is available free of charge and can be downloaded from the App store in iTunes. The application is compatible with both the Apple iPhone and iPod Touch and requires Web access for only the initial download and updates.

Related: iPhone App Reports Drug Safety, Adverse Events Info

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