The Importance of Computerized Drug Interaction Checker Programs Used in Community Pharmacies to Avoid Potential Drug Interactions: A Preliminary Study with Clarithromycin

Abstract

Introduction:Drug-drug interactions (DDI) due to multiple drug use are the most important cause of adverse drug reactions. DDIs are among medication errors that can be prevented. The integrated computerized drug interaction checker programs, which medical professionals use in addition to their medical and practical knowledge, can help medical staff to reduce potential DDIs (PDDIs), although they are not sufficient alone. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of computerized drug interaction checker programs in the identification and prevention of PDDIs in clarithromycin prescribed pediatric outpatients.Methods:The study was a retrospective observational prescription analysis held in three community pharmacies operating in the province of Üsküdar-İstanbul during 12-month period. The prescriptions with oral clarithromycin medication were selected and PDDIs were analyzed using the RxMediaPharma® software on an active substance base.Results:During the 12-month period, 100 prescriptions containing 266 medicines were prescribed by 52 different physicians. The mean number of medicines per prescription was 2.66±1.11. Of the 16 PDDIs detected, five were clarithromycinrelated (31.25%) and 11 were non-clarithromycin-related (68.75%). When PDDIs were categorized by severity, 10 out of 16 (62.5%) were high-risk, two (12.5%) were moderate and four (25%) were low-risk. Clarithromycin interactions were moderate with lidocaine and low with both metronidazole and sultamicillin (ampicillin/sulbactam).Conclusion:Although evidence based computerized drug interaction checker programs that provide rapid access is not sufficient alone, they can help health care professionals in preventing PDDIs. The use of this program in the community pharmacies could minimize PDDIs during the dispensing of medicine.

Keywords

• Adverse drug reactions
• computerized drug interaction checker program
• drug interactions