Abstract
Drug-drug interaction or simply term drug interactions may be defined as the combining of two or more drugs such that the potency or efficiency of one drug is significantly modified by the presence of another. Potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are concern for patients and providers, as multiple medication use is becoming more common to manage complex diseases. The consequences of DDIs can range from no untoward effects to drug-related morbidity and mortality. The study was prospective conducted for a period of twelve months in Government Headquarters Hospital Ooty (GHQH) and four community pharmacies that were located in Southern India, Tamilnadu. A total number of 1,066 prescriptions were collected from the patients. A copy of prescription was taken from the patients and data collected included age and sex of the patients, their primary diagnoses presence or absence of comorbidities and the list of medications prescribed concurrently. The potential DDIs were determined through IBM Micromedex Database. However, 147 DDIs were followed up for clinically drug interactions which were found not to be significant. Among the total numbers of prescriptions analyzed 402 (38%) prescriptions showed 462 DDIs and 664 (62.2%) total number of prescriptions collected from inpatient department, GHQH showed 147 DDIs. The DDIs were classified based on the mechanism of interactions, severity of interactions, drug causing DDIs and top combination of drugs and which were determined. This study emphasized on understanding about the most prone age group and the common mechanism that can cause drug interactions which will help in the safety and efficacy of prescribed drugs followed by its management. Key words: Drug-Drug interactions, prescriptions, prevalence, severity, management.
Highlights
Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are defined as the presence of two or more drugs where one drug significantly modifies the action of another drug (Bruno et al, 2007); Jindal et al, (2005) and Janchawee et al, 2005)
A total of 1,066 prescriptions were analyzed during the study period which was collected from Government Headquarters Hospital Ooty (GHQH) and from the four community pharmacies
Among the total numbers of prescriptions analyzed, 402 (38%) prescriptions showed 462 drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and 664 (62.2%) total number of prescriptions collected from inpatient department, Government Headquarters Hospital Ooty (GHQH) showed 147 DDIs (Table 2) where patients were followed up and assessed for clinically DDI and when frequency of administration was taken into consideration was not found clinically significant
Summary
Drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are defined as the presence of two or more drugs where one drug significantly modifies the action of another drug (Bruno et al, 2007); Jindal et al, (2005) and Janchawee et al, 2005) This is a major concern for patients and healt care professionals as most of the diseases require multiple drug regimen. At risk for clinically important DDIs at the visit level will be useful in minimizing medication-related problems and improving pharmaceutical care (kennedy et al, 2015). Understanding the prevalence and patients at risk for clinically important DDIs at the visit level will be useful in minimizing medication-related problems and improving pharmaceutical care (Jorg et al 2007), (Mitja 2017).
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