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Drug interactions and multiple drug administration
Author(s) -
May Franklin E.,
Stewart Ronald B.,
Cluff Leighton E.
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1977223322
Subject(s) - drug , medicine , tranquilizer , pharmacology , analgesic , anticoagulant drug , adverse effect , anticoagulant
Effects of multiple drug administration on adverse drug reactions were studied in 10,518 patients hospitalized on a general medical service during a five‐year period. Nine index drug groups, including analgesic, antacid, antiarrhythmic, antimicrobic, anticoagulant, antihypertensive, anti‐inflammatory, diuretic, and sedative‐tranquilizer drugs, were selected for study. The average number of adverse drug reactions for the anticoagulant and antihypertensive drug groups was higher (p < 0.05) than for all other drug groups when classified by the number of drugs being taken concurrently (i.e., 0 to 5, 6 to 10, etc.). The rate of reaction for anticoagulant and antihypertensive drug groups was higher (p < 0.001) than the rate for other drug groups studied. These data suggest a higher risk of adverse drug reactions for patients receiving multiple drugs. The increased risk may result from drug interactions.