Deadly drug interactions in emergency medicine.
Many life-threatening drug interactions are predictable, avoidable events. Emergency medicine physicians have a responsibility to recognize and prevent drug interactions. Keeping current on the many pharmaceutical therapies,their pharmacology, and potential drug interactions currently represents one of the biggest challenges for emergency medicine practitioners. Using current drug interaction resources and knowing the limited number of medications that are responsible for the most serious drug interactions can ease this seemingly overwhelming burden greatly. Clinicians need to be particularly vigilant when prescribing drugs for patients who are taking medications with potential for drug interactions leading to serious consequences.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. kmprybys@Aol.com
Katherine M
KM
Prybys
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D004077:Digoxin / Q000009:adverse effects; D004347:Drug Interactions / Q000502:physiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D010819:Physician's Role; D012307:Risk Factors; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D020230:Serotonin Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014481:United States; D014859:Warfarin / Q000009:adverse effects
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000925:Anticoagulants; D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D014859:Warfarin; D004077:Digoxin; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System