Abstract
Objective: To study the pattern of drug interactions (DI) in our hospital and to identify whether it is associated with polypharmacy. To determine the level of severity of potential drug-drug interactions (PDDI), to detect, monitor and prevention of ADRs in the hospitalized patients and to identify the medication errors (ME).
 Methods: A prospective interventional study was conducted in a 300 bedded tertiary care South Indian hospital for a period of 6 mo. Prescriptions were analysed for PDDI using Micromedex software 2.2. The causality and severity of ADRs were assessed by using Naranjo’s, WHO UMC Scales and Hart wigs severity scales. ME was identified by review of patient drug charts.
 Results: Total 190 prescriptions were analyzed, in which 1028 drug interactions were seen. Out of which 718 were DDI, 198 DFI, 100 DEI, and 12 DTI were observed. More number of DI was seen in cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics followed by antacids and antiulcer agents. A total of 52 ADRs were identified in 43 patients. Diuretics, cardiovascular drugs were associated with a higher incidence of ADRs followed by Anti-Diabetic agents. 58 ME was seen in 190 prescriptions, among them omission error, prescribing errors and Wrong dose error was seen.
 Conclusion: Clinical pharmacist plays a potential role in the health care system in assisting the physician i.e. modifying the number of drugs taken, number of doses taken, medication adherence, identification of drug interactions, preventing, monitoring and detection of ADRs and identifying the medication errors.
Highlights
The definition of polypharmacy in the literature is not uniform.the word ‘poly’ is a Greek word and means many or much.There are basically two approaches to the definition [1]
More number of drug interactions (DI) was seen in cardiovascular drugs, antibiotics followed by antacids and antiulcer agents
Cardiovascular drugs were associated with a higher incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) followed by Anti-Diabetic agents. 58
Summary
The definition of polypharmacy in the literature is not uniform.the word ‘poly’ is a Greek word and means many or much.There are basically two approaches to the definition [1]. According to the WHO, the rational use of drugs requires that patients receive medications appropriate to their clinical needs, in doses that meet their own individual requirements, for an adequate period of time, and at the lowest cost to the and their community [2]. Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and clinical outcomes are affected by a number of patient-specific factors, including age, sex, ethnicity, genetics, disease processes, polypharmacy, drug dose, and frequency, social factors, and many other factors [3]. The burden of taking multiple medications has been associated with greater health care costs and an increased risk of adverse drug events (ADEs), drug interactions, medication non-adherence, reduced functional capacity and multiple geriatric syndromes [4]. The aim of the study was to evaluate the drug interactions (DIs), to assess, monitor and report the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and to minimize medication errors
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