2024-02-28 18:46:03
Warning: Always consult a healthcare professional before taking any new medication (prescription or over-the-counter) to avoid potentially dangerous interactions.
The danger of pharmacological interactions
In medicine, when certain elements are combined it can have serious consequences. We speak of a drug interaction concerning a modification of the therapeutic activity of a drug, linked to the taking of one or more other drugs as part of a treatment. It can lead to more or less serious consequences on a patient’s health. Among the best known? Eating grapefruit will cause an increase in the intestinal absorption of certain medications and, in fact, modify their effectiveness. Or the bad mix between alcohol and medication. But there are hundreds of other risky pharmacological interactions…
On its website, Health Insurance lists the 4 types of effects that taking 2 medications simultaneously can have:
a absence d’interaction when the drugs do not interfere with each other at all, a increased effects of one of the drugs, a reciprocal increase and simultaneous effect of the 2 drugs, a reduction or elimination of effects one or both medications.
Please note: Not all drug interactions are harmful, and some are used for therapeutic purposes.
The topic of drug interactions is far from new. There is also an official directory of the main interactions to avoid on the website of the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (ANSM). What is, on the other hand, are the new new dangerous combinations brought to light by an American study, published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering. In all, there are no less than 58 new combinations of various drugs which might have serious or even fatal consequences.
What medications should not be combined?
The list of medications that should not be combined is long and can vary depending on the individual. Among the medications generally at greatest risk of interactions are anticoagulants (such as warfarin), certain antibiotics, antidepressants and in particular those that increase serotonin levels, certain heart medications, HIV medications, etc. In their latest study, American researchers identified 58 new drug combinations that represent a danger to health. They indicate that it is necessary avoid taking the following medications :
Ibuprofen (pain reliever); Warfarin (serves primarily as an anticoagulant to prevent clot formation in patients with heart disease); Verelan, drug name Verapamil (to lower blood pressure); Quinine (malaria medicine); Ergomar or Cafergot; Ranitidine (antiulcer); Carbamazepine (antiepileptic, neurotropic and psychotropic); Atorvastatin (lowers the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides circulating in the blood); Levetiracetam (anti-epileptic); Tacrolimus (immunosuppressant indicated for the prevention of transplant rejection); Doxycycline (antibiotic).
In combination with :
Turmeric supplements, Warfarin (prevents the formation of blood clots), Quinine ( once morest malaria), Doxycycline (antibiotic), Ergomar or Cafergot ( once morest migraines), Ranitide ( once morest ulcers), Curatil, Tegretol or Carbamazepine (treatment of epilepsy or seizure), Nadolol (beta blockers once morest hypertension) Atrovastatin (lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood), Lasix or Furosemide (treat high blood pressure), Migranal, DHE or Di-hydroergotamine (for migraines), Doxycycline (antibiotic), Digoxin (a medicine for heart failure).
Combining medications: what are the risks?
Ineffectiveness of medications, Side effects and risk of potentiation of side effects if two medications have similar side effects, Unintentional and dangerous overdose, Risk of drug accumulation, Risk of stroke, Risk of major bleeding, Risk of heart attack deadly.
The right reflex to reduce risks?
Obviously, it is necessary to always seek advice from a health professional before taking a new medication (prescription or over-the-counter) to ensure that you are not exposed to the risk of harmful interactions for health. Likewise, certain supplements and dietary supplements can interact with certain medications… hence the need to keep your doctor and pharmacist informed when taking a new medication.
Expert advice to limit the risks of dangerous interactions: wait 4 to 6 hours between taking the incriminated medications.
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