నైరూప్య

Drug Interactions ? Causes & Implications

Pratibha Muntha

Drug interaction is a condition in which a substance alters the activity of another drug when both are concurrently administered. This altered action can be synergistic (action of the drug is elevated) or antagonistic (action of the drug is decreased). There are different types of interactions between drugs and other substances such as food, dietary supplements, herbs, alcohol, tobacco etc...Drug interactions usually occur accidentally or due to lack of knowledge about the drugs being used. The field of drug interactions has received a great deal of attention in recent times from the health care professionals. In drug interactions the therapeutic efficacy of a drug is altered by another drug which is simultaneously administered to the patient.