The action of a drug that may affect the activity, metabolism, or toxicity of another drug.
The effects of two or more drugs taken concomitantly, producing an alteration in the usual effects of either drug taken alone. The interacting drugs may have a potentiating or additive effect and produce side effects. An example of drug interaction is alcohol and sedative drugs taken together, leading to intensification of central nervous system (CNS) depression.
The term applied to the effects (actions) of one or more of the drugs when two or more drugs are given simultaneously. If each drug acts as though no other drug were being administered, there is no interaction. However, if the action on the body of one or more of the drugs is different than if given by itself, there is a drug interaction. Such interactions are increasingly known, and watched for by physicians and pharmacists; computer systems are being introduced to check for interactions among the list of medications for a given patient. A known drug interaction may or may not be a contraindication to using a drug on a given patient, depending on whether the altered effect would be harmful. An extension of the checking against interactions is a systematic check (often by computer) for other contraindications, that is, for problems of the patient which may make it inadvisable to give a certain drug, or for foods which should be avoided when a certain drug is used. These effects are called drug incompatibilities.
A drug may interact with another by inhibiting its action, potentiating its action (the sum is greater than the parts), or by simple summation (addition) of effects.
The combined effect of drugs taken concurrently. The result may be antagonism or synergism, and may be lethal in some cases. It is important for the patient, pharmacist, physician, and nurse to be aware of the potential interaction of drugs that are prescribed as well as those that the patient may be self-administering.
Occur when two or more medicines react with each other, causing unexpected side effects in the user. The activity of one medicine may be decreased or increased when a second drug is taken, or the combination of two drugs may cause an entirely different effect than is intended.
A condition in which a drug reacts with another drug, food, or dietary supplement such that the effect of one of the substances is greater or smaller.
The alteration of a medication caused by its interaction with itself or other medicinal agents, dietary elements, or chemicals given to a patient, may lead to either favorable or unfavorable changes. Such changes in drug properties may manifest in various forms and depend on the nature of the medication and the agents involved in the interaction.
In the field of pharmacology, there exists a phenomenon known as drug interaction, which refers to a chemical or physiological reaction that can take place when two different medications are consumed concurrently. When certain drugs interact with one another, they can produce a variety of effects that may alter their individual pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics. Understanding and managing drug interactions is crucial for healthcare professionals to ensure safe and effective medication use in patients.
The impact of a medication when consumed concurrently with other medications or substances like alcohol.