NURS 3100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Renal Function, Grapefruit Juice, Cimetidine
Document Summary
When more than one drug is taken by a patient, there is a risk that the drugs will conflict with each other by altering absorption, metabolism, distribution, or elimination (adme). The risk increases with the number of drugs a person takes, including over-the- counter (otc) agents such as pain relievers, herbal supplements, and alcohol. There is a fairly linear relationship between the number of drugs taken and the risk for a serious interaction. For example, the average 65-year-old takes seven medications and has about a 70% risk for one or more drug-drug interactions. As two drugs interact with each other and alter the mechanisms of adme, there are three possible outcomes: One drug may potentiate the effects of the other drug. One drug may inhibit the effects of the other drug. The drug combination may elicit a response not seen with either drug alone.
