Medication and Drug Interactions

by Thomas C. Field, D.O.

It is important to realize that there can be negative and dangerous interactions between different drugs. Each of these medications by themselves could prove to be beneficial, but in combination they essentially become a completely new medication, in other words an unknown drug. To prevent finding out about these negative drug interactions firsthand, it is important that you keep a list of ALL your medications on you at all times. It is also extremely important to find out as much information as possible on each of these drugs individually and in their various combinations.

If a new medication is ever prescribed, you can show the list to your doctor or pharmacist to check on any unwanted medication interactions. Surprisingly often a pharmacist will have a greater knowledge of drugs than a physician. It is their specialty and they spend years learning about each individual medication, their side effects, and the varied drug interactions between them. It is also possible to check with a Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) for any unwanted drug interactions. A PDR lists all the known and prescribed medications available in the United States. This guide is available online or you can ask your pharmacist as they should have a copy.

If a new medication is taken without checking for interactions, be aware of the appearance of any new or novel symptoms that are unusual and/or irritating. If you experience any of these do not hesitate to contact your Pharmacist of Physician. Your health is far too precious to be taken lightly. Do not let yourself be worried about asking a foolish question or irritating your doctor, because it is their job to be concerned for your health. If your symptoms are of an extreme nature and there is a possibility that they might become life threatening, it would be advisable to immediately go to a hospital emergency room instead of availing yourself of the previous suggestions.

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