Drug interactions and their nursing implications

Drug interactions occur whenever the diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, or toxic action of a drug is modified by another substance (food or drug). Drug interactions can be harmful or beneficial. As more drugs are released, the possibility of drug interaction increases daily. Nurses need to be aware of the mechanisms for drug interactions in order to assist with prevention. The general concepts of drug interactions are presented as to the categories of occurrence: pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, combined toxicities; drug-food interactions, and incompatibilities.