03.01.09
About 2 million individuals are potentially at risk for a major drug-drug interaction, according to a study of about 3000 people published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in early January. For this study, in-home interviews, including medication logs, were administered to people aged 57 to 85 to determine over-the-counter (OTC) medications and dietary supplements used “on a regular schedule, like every day or every week.”
Concurrent use was defined as the regular use of at least two medications. Prescription and nonprescription medications were commonly used together, with nearly one in 25 individuals potentially at risk for a major drug-drug interaction, according to results. For men ages 75 to 85, it was as high as 1 in 10. Overall, 4% of individuals were potentially at risk of having a major drug-drug interaction; half of these involved the use of nonprescription medications. These regimens were most prevalent among men in the oldest age group and nearly half involved anticoagulants. This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Chicago.
Concurrent use was defined as the regular use of at least two medications. Prescription and nonprescription medications were commonly used together, with nearly one in 25 individuals potentially at risk for a major drug-drug interaction, according to results. For men ages 75 to 85, it was as high as 1 in 10. Overall, 4% of individuals were potentially at risk of having a major drug-drug interaction; half of these involved the use of nonprescription medications. These regimens were most prevalent among men in the oldest age group and nearly half involved anticoagulants. This research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the University of Chicago.