TITLE:
Possibility of Drug-Drug Interaction in Prescription Dispensed by Community and Hospital Pharmacy
AUTHORS:
Huda Kafeel, Ramsha Rukh, Hina Qamar, Jaweria Bawany, Mehreen Jamshed, Rabia Sheikh, Tazeen Hanif, Urooj Bokhari, Wardha Jawaid, Yumna Javed, Yamna Mariam Saleem
KEYWORDS:
Drug-Drug Interaction; Adverse Drug Reaction; Polypharmacy
JOURNAL NAME:
Pharmacology & Pharmacy,
Vol.5 No.4,
April
15,
2014
ABSTRACT: Objective:
To analyze the use of all subsidized prescription drugs including their use of
drug combination generally accepted as carrying a risk of severe interactions. Methodology:
In a cross sectional study, we analyzed all prescriptions (n = 1014) involving
two or more drugs dispensed to the population (age range 4-85 years) from all
pharmacies, clinics and hospitals. Data were stratified by age and sex, and
frequency of common interacting drugs. Potential drug interactions were
classified according to clinical relevance as significance of severity (types A:
major, B: moderate, and C: minor) and documented evidence (types 1, 2, 3, and
4). Result and Discussion: The growing use of pharmacological agents means that
drug interactions are of increasing interest for public health. Monitoring of
potential drug interactions may improve the quality of drug prescribing and
dispensing, and it might form a basis for education focused on appropriate
prescribing. To make the manifestation of adverse interaction subside,
management strategies must be exercised if two interacting drugs have to be
taken with each other, involving: adjusting the dose of the object drug; spacing
dosing times to avoid the interaction. The pharmacist, along with the
prescriber has a duty to ensure that patients are aware of the risk of side
effects and a suitable course of action they should take. Conclusion: It is
unrealistic to expect clinicians to memorize the thousands of drug-drug
interactions and their clinical significance, especially considering the rate
of introduction of novel drugs and the escalating appreciation of the
importance of pharmacogenomics. Reliable regularly updated decision support
systems and information technology are necessary to help avert dangerous drug
combinations.