Potential clinically significant life-threatening drug–drug interactions (DDIs) of lopinavir (LPV) and ritonavir (RTV) used in the treatment of COVID-19 is not systematically reviewed. It was aimed to identify severe DDI pairs of LPV/RTV from international resources predicted to cause life-threatening adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Severe DDI pairs predicted to cause life-threatening ADRs were identified from the FDA and Liverpool COVID-19 prescribing information of LPV/RTV. In total, 62 severe DDI pairs were identified from the FDA and Liverpool COVID-19 resources predicted to cause life-threatening ADRs in patients with COVID-19. Of these, seven unique DDI pairs (11.3%; 95% CI 3%–19%) were identified from the FDA only whereas 45 unique DDI pairs (72.6%; 95% CI 61%–84%) were identified from the Liverpool COVID-19 drug interactions resource. Of interest, only 10 DDI pairs (16.1%; 95% CI 7%–25%) were recognized by both of these drug interaction resources. Clinicians should not entirely rely on any individual DDI resource for checking life threatening ADRs of LPV/RTV in patients with COVID-19.

The majority of smokers indicate that they would like to quit. It has been estimated that approximately three quarters of Australian smokers have tried to change their behaviour in the last 12 months (Scollo & Winstanley, 2008); similarly, more than half of US smokers report having tried to quit in the last year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2011). Despite their interest in quitting, the proportion of smokers who successfully quit each year is very low (CDC, 2011). While other factors are also important, poor cessation rates can partly be attributed to the low uptake of efficacious smoking cessation methods, particularly pharmacotherapies (Shiffman, Brockwell, Pillitteri, & Gitchell, 2008).