Prescription drug therapy in the podiatric outpatient population: interactions and precautions

A survey of 2,000 outpatients at the clinic of the Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine was conducted analyzing both medications reported by the patients at the time of treatment and drugs by the attending podiatrist. The major groups of medications already used by the patients included diuretics, vitamins and minerals, nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, cardiovascular medications, insulin and oral hypoglycemics, estrogen and thyroid hormone replacement, and antibiotics. Patients with asthma, ulcers, epilepsy, affective disorders and Parkinsonism represented significant subgroups. The major drugs used by podiatrists in the outpatient clinic included analgesics and antiinflammatory agents, local anesthetics, antibiotics, sedative-hypnotics, and a variety of topical agents. These two sources of medication serve as the basis for a review of drug interactions in the podiatric outpatient population. In addition, precautions for the use of drugs commonly administered by podiatrists are reviewed.