Doubling TB medication doesn't increase depression or anxiety

A new study has found that doubling the dose of certain HIV treatments for patients also being treated for tuberculosis (TB) does not increase rates of anxiety or depression. The research, presented at the CROI 2025 Annual Meeting, involved over 100 adults with HIV and TB. The study looked at the effects of two HIV treatment regimens: dolutegravir and bictegravir, which are both Integrase Strand Transfer inhibitors. Previous research raised concerns that these treatments might lead to more neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients. However, this study showed that patients experienced similar levels of anxiety and depression regardless of whether they received the standard or double dose. In the analysis, 122 adults were divided into two groups. One group received bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (BIC), while the other received tenofovir, lamivudine, and dolutegravir (DTG). Most participants were men, with a median age of 35. Participants were evaluated for anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbance several times during the study. The results showed no severe cases of anxiety or depression in the DTG group. One person in the BIC group reported severe symptoms early in treatment, but these resolved quickly without intervention. Overall, very few cases of moderate anxiety and depression were reported. Mild anxiety and mild depression were seen in a small percentage of participants. The findings suggest that these combinations are safe for people with both HIV and TB. Despite the positive results, many patients reported sleep issues, indicating a need for further research on this topic. The study did not receive outside funding, and there were no reported financial conflicts among the researchers.