How to Avoid Adverse Medicine Interactions

As Big Pharma companies become more distracted in their efforts to fend off competition from generics, find new treatments, and place more energy and resources on marketing, physicians and patients have to take more of an active role in ensuring drug safety. This is particularly true in the area of medicine interactions and managing multiple drugs.

Medicine interactions can happen expectantly. Edith Manley of San Leandro, CA, knows the dangers of mixing certain medications all too well. Nearly three years ago, Ms. Manley's 39-year-old daughter, Megan Nelson, died unexpectedly while visiting her. She was taking antidepressants for her depression and painkillers for her back pain and it caused a harmful drug interaction.

Lack of Studies


There have been relatively few studies that test drugs in combination primarily because of the sheer number of tests required to do it right. For instance, if one takes three drugs then adequate medicine interaction testing of the various combinations require seven separate tests. If ones take four drugs, the combinations require 25 separate tests. If one takes five drugs, it amounts to 121 tests. If one takes 10 drugs, the number of required medicine interaction tests total 362,881.

Harmful drug interactions can cause several problems especially for those who have multiple medical conditions and who see multiple physicians. Oscar Gluck, MD, clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona School of Medicine and director of the Arizona Rheumatology Center, says most of his patients have several diseases. Although people of any age can have multiple health problems, the greatest risk is among those 50 and older, he says. As people age, they are more apt to develop other health problems, mix medication and have unfortunate medicine interactions.

Helpful hint: Mixing drugs, vitamins, and herbs can also cause problems. Review all your drugs with your doctor every 6 to 12 months as well as any specialists that you see. For your review, take all your bottles with you and include vitamins, herbs, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs, like ibuprofen. Or bring a list of the drugs and how much you take.

Even after taking the above precautions, harmful drug interactions can still occur. Contact Seeger Weiss if you or a family member has been irreversibly harmed.

Call Us Toll Free:

888-584-0411