One of the worst ways to find out your doctor prescribed you drugs that interact poorly with each other is by taking both and experiencing the results directly. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, drug interactions make up around 2.8% of annual hospitalizations in the United States.
While it is not prudent to read up on every known drug-drug interaction, it may help avoid life-threatening consequences if you understand the potential risks and identify a negative drug reaction ahead of time.
Warfarin and clotting
Warfarin is a prescription that serves to prevent blood clots by inhibiting Vitamin K-dependent clotting factors. Common interactions with other drugs and herbal products may increase your risk for major bleeding. Some drugs lower the metabolism of warfarin, which lowers the effectiveness of preventing blood clots.
Statin drugs and heart disease
Statin drugs seek to reduce illness and mortality for those with high risk of cardiovascular disease. They often do this in the form of cholesterol-lowering drugs. Amiodarone, azole antifungals and calcium channel blockers all potentially inhibit the effectiveness of these drugs.
Any CNS depressing agents in combination
Medications that depress the central nervous system are risky on their own, let alone together. Reactions to a combination include slowed or difficult breathing or even outright sedation.
This is not a comprehensive list. If you feel that your doctor has prescribed conflicting medications, it is best to find out before you take them in tandem. Regardless of when you discover the negative interaction, there are options available to help you navigate recovering any potential damages that come after.
