Drug Interactions

Drug interactions occur when one drug in the body affects another drug that a person is taking. The interaction can take many forms, and may be helpful or harmful. Drugs that are known to interact are sometimes given together in order to have a positive effect.

What is the information for this topic?

Drug interactions can cause serious problems. The more drugs a person takes, the more likely a drug interaction is. Drug interactions can occur with many types of substances. These include prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and vitamins. Homeopathic remedies and recreational drugs, such as alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drugs, can also interact.

Effects of drug interactions

Drug interactions can happen in the following ways:

How drugs interact

There are several ways in which drug interactions can take place. Drug A might interfere with the way drug B is absorbed into the bloodstream through the gut. Or drug A might block the metabolism, or the breakdown, of drug B by the liver. Drug A might block drug B from being eliminated from the urine. Drugs can also interact at the cell level. For example, one drug may push the other drug off the cell and make it less effective. There are a number of other kinds of interactions.

Precautions

When a new medication is prescribed, a person should tell his or her healthcare provider what other drugs he or she is taking. To avoid serious drug interactions, it's important to mention medications that have been prescribed by other healthcare providers. A person cannot afford to be quiet about taking birth control pills, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies and complementary therapies, or illegal drugs. All drugs and substances are important to mention.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists recently issued a warning about the potential side effects and interactions of herbal remedies with medications used before, during, and after surgery. The group recommends discontinuing all herbal supplements at least two weeks before planned surgery.

An individual who takes over-the-counter medications should read the warning labels on the package. Sometimes, important drug interactions are listed on the box. Those who take prescription medications should ask their healthcare providers before taking new medications or herbal remedies. A pharmacist can be consulted when buying over-the-counter medications to be sure that they do not interact with prescription medications.

A good way to help reduce the risk of drug interactions is to get all prescriptions filled at the same pharmacy. That way the pharmacist will have a complete record of all the medications the person is taking. The pharmacist can make sure there are no potentially dangerous interactions. This is especially important for people who are treated by more than one healthcare provider.

There are hundreds of possible drug interactions. The list grows longer every year. It's wise to check for possible drug interactions before any new substance is taken.