Drug interactions: a study and evaluation of their incidence in Victoria

This study attempted to quantify the incidence of drug interactions in general practice prescribing in Victoria. We used a computer program to search 428 prescriptions and associated medication records for possible interactions. We made 2445 drug/drug comparisons; the computer program generated 37 possible interaction alerts, none of which warranted a change in therapy. This type of computer program, unless extremely sophisticated, can only serve as a primary alert; a health professional should then check the validity of interactions it identifies.