Drug interactions

Any patient taking two or more drugs is at risk for an adverse drug interaction. However, drug interactions are not always dangerous; some can be beneficial (i.e., protamine to neutralize a heparin overdose). The development and release of many new drugs in recent years makes it difficult to stay abreast of all possible drug interactions. Nurses can help polypharmacy to be safe and effective in their patients by understanding the important mechanisms and sites by which drugs interact.