Drug Interactions Newsletter

Volume 1, Issue 11, 03/31/2009

Question

What are the various mechanisms for drug interactions that all clinicians need to know?

Answer

Periodically, Pharmacology Weekly will devote an issue to explaining common principles (and/or mechanisms) related to the purposes and information contained in the Drug Interactions Newsletters.  It is our desire to provide busy clinicians with the facts that they need as well as the foundational knowledge that each newsletter builds upon.  Is this question clinically relevant; isn't it too basic?

While it appears to be an overly basic question, drug interactions can be very complex and the mechanisms by which they occur can vary greatly.  Some clinicians may believe that most, or all, drug interactions can be predicted or explained by evaluating the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzyme profiles of the drugs in question.  This is clearly not the case and can result in the coadministration of a dangerous or inappropriate combination of two or more medications.   In fact, Pharmacology Weekly has previously published many newsletter issues that provide explanations of drug interactions that cannot be explained by solely evaluating the CYP450 profile of two medications.(1-4)  As a result, clinicians need to be aware of the other common pathways which result in drug interactions. What are the main categories or classifications of drug interactions?......To read the full answer please LOGIN or SUBSCRIBE NOW.