Twenty-eight Year Old HIV Positive Male Patient with Ergotism. Interaction of Ergot-alkaloids and Protease-inhibitors

Ergotism is a rare clinical condition caused by ergot-alkaloid intoxication or pharmacodynamic interactions. The pathophysiology is based on arterial spasm in different segments of the arterial tree. Ergot-alkaloids are frequently prescribed as treatment for severe migraine. Ergotamine overdose is often based on interactions with other drugs using the same metabolic pathway. We report a case of a 28 year old HIV positive male patient on protease-inhibitors, who developed ergotism under the co-treatment of migraine by ergot-alkaloids.