Assessing the Risk of Drug Interactions

By Anna Matthews, RDH, MS, Sandra Stramoski, RDH, MSDH and Christopher W. Bowers, DMD, MS

The polypharmaceutical nature of modern health care, with an estimated 29% of Americans taking five or more medications on a regular basis,¹ requires oral health professionals to have a thorough understanding of possible drug interactions. Drugs can interact with each other, as well as with herbal supplements, vitamin and mineral supplements, and even various foods.² Understanding the many complex, underlying mechanisms of these interactions and resulting intricate drug relationships is crucial in preventing adverse drug reactions and potentially life-threatening emergencies.² While the number and therapeutic categories of drugs prescribed in the dental setting is limited compared to medicine, a thorough review of the patient’s drug history and evaluation for potential adverse reactions—or reduced effect as a result of drug interaction—is required.^3,4

* References can be found in the original article via the link below.
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