Putative Effect of Ascorbic Acid Against Anxiety-Like Behavior Induced by Chronic Efavirenz Treatment in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Efavirenz (EFV) is an antiretroviral drug commonly used in the HIV-1 variant treatment. Studies show many CNS side effects with patients treated with EFV usually developing headache, dizziness, insomnia, fatigue, severe depression and anxiety disorders. However, even if these symptoms are associated with oxidative stress, the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the adverse actions of EFV are intrinsically obscure.