Drug Interactions an Increasing Concern in Dermatology
Drug Interactions an Increasing Concern in Dermatology
The increasing availability of systemic drugs for the treatment of skin diseases is reflected by an increasing necessity to consider drug interactions. Although some drug interactions can have beneficial effects, most induce adverse effects. Patients receiving multiple drugs, including the elderly and patients with various chronic diseases, are at very high risk of developing adverse reactions caused by drug interactions.
In general, the most common drug interactions in dermatology involve altered hepatic metabolism, although pharmacodynamic interactions and other pharmacokinetic interactions, such as those involving interference with drug elimination, can also occur. Some of the drugs used in the management of dermatological conditions that are implicated in clinically significant drug interactions include methotrexate, cyclosporin, tetracyclines, rifampicin (rifampin), retinoids and azole antifungals.
Awareness of drug-drug interactions is the first step in reducing or eliminating the risk of their occurrence. Some of the most important drug interactions with regard to the therapy of dermatological diseases are shown in table 1.
The increasing availability of systemic drugs for the treatment of skin diseases is reflected by an increasing necessity to consider drug interactions. Although some drug interactions can have beneficial effects, most induce adverse effects. Patients receiving multiple drugs, including the elderly and patients with various chronic diseases, are at very high risk of developing adverse reactions caused by drug interactions.
In general, the most common drug interactions in dermatology involve altered hepatic metabolism, although pharmacodynamic interactions and other pharmacokinetic interactions, such as those involving interference with drug elimination, can also occur. Some of the drugs used in the management of dermatological conditions that are implicated in clinically significant drug interactions include methotrexate, cyclosporin, tetracyclines, rifampicin (rifampin), retinoids and azole antifungals.
Awareness of drug-drug interactions is the first step in reducing or eliminating the risk of their occurrence. Some of the most important drug interactions with regard to the therapy of dermatological diseases are shown in table 1.