European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG- DRUG INTERACTION: A REVIEW

K. M. Shikha*, Umakant Sharma and Mayank Kumar

ABSTRACT

Drug interaction is desirable or undesirable pharmacological effect of drugs interacting with other drugs, with endogenous physiologic chemical agents, with components of the diet, and with chemicals used in diagnostic tests. An interaction can either increase or decrease the effectiveness or the side effects of a drug, or it can create a new side effect not previously seen before.[1] Drug interactions may make the drug less effective, cause unexpected side effects or increase the action of a particular drug. Some drug interactions can even be harmful. Therefore, reading the label every time before using a nonprescription or prescription drug and taking the time to learn about drug interactions may be useful.[2] The probability of interactions increases with the number of drugs taken. The high rate of prescribed drugs in elderly patients (65-year-old patients take an average of 5 drugs) increases the likelihood of drug interactions and thus the risk that drugs itself can be the cause of hospitalization.[3]

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