Prevalence of Potential Drug-drug Interactions among Psychiatric Patients at Psychiatry Hospital in Sulaimani City

Abstract

Background: Clinically significant drug-drug interactions can be defined as events in which the pharmacodynamics or pharmacokinetic characteristics of a drug are modified by coadministration of a second drug to the patient’s medication protocol, which can often lead to in an increase of serious adverse reactions. The probability of interactions increases with higher number of drugs administered. Objective: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of potential psychotropic drug-drug interactions among hospitalized patients at Psychiatry hospital in Sulaimani city, and to identify the clinical consequence of such combinations. Method: The current study was involved recruiting the data regarding prescribed psychotropic drugs of 60 newly hospitalized psychiatric patients. Data collection on each individual patient was performed on the specific patient dossier of to report any potential psychotropic drug-drug interactions utilizing Medscape drug interaction checker for identification of the different types of drug-drug interactions. Result: The prevalence of potential drug-drug interaction at Psychiatry Unit in Sulaimani city in 60 patients was 98%, of which 16.6% were major drug-drug interactions. The most frequently prescribed medications were antidepressant drugs, most of patients received more than four drugs. Conclusion: From the current study one can conclude that there was a high prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions among psychiatric patients, which was more frequent in patients taking more than one psychotropic medication.

Keywords

• Drug-drug interactions
• psychotropics