Drug Interactions

Abstract

Drug interactions can be described as the pharmacological influence of one drug on another drug, when administered in combination. Drug interaction can cause an increased or decreased effect of the drug, but it can also lead to a toxic effect. In daily practice in operating rooms and intensive care units, anesthesiologists routinely combine drugs. Interactions are usually divided according to the mechanism of occurrence and the most frequent are pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic. In pharmacokinetic interactions, the interactions are at the level of absorption, distribution, metabolism, or elimination processes. Such interactions are predictable, but their extent cannot be predicted. Pharmacodynamic interactions refer to antagonistic or synergistic action between drugs. It remains a challenge to teach clinicians how to combine these drugs in order to achieve and maintain optimal anesthetic and vital conditions, while minimizing side effects. A good understanding and knowledge of drug interactions can improve the ability to titrate multiple drugs more effectively.