Evaluation of a computerized drug interaction checking system

A real-time computer-based system for checking drug interaction is reported. Out of 169230 prescriptions checked by our drug interaction standards, 8.8% or 14965 were found to contain those which may cause drug interaction, while 47.3% of those were prescribed in the Department of Internal Medicine and 39.8% in Psychiatry. It was found that use could be made of some of the therapeutic prescriptions written in A group (Prescriptions containing the drugs with highly dangerous interactions), or Department of Psychiatry when sufficient cooperation was available between the physicians and the pharmaceutics. By this screening system, it became easy to advise the prescribing physicians about items of clinical tests required, treatment in order to prevent side effects, etc.