Pharmacokinetics disease interactions

Drug-Demographic and Drug-Disease Interactions. The information from pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies as well as clinical trials should be analyzed in the same way as were done to determine drug-drug interactions. 

For select cardiovascular drugs it is important to consider patient characteristics, the condition being treated, and the potential for drug and disease interactions before and during therapy. Careful consideration of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters in drug dosing and patient monitoring in each patient will optimize the benefits and minimize the risks of treatment. 

As the number of medications that a patient takes increases, so does the potential for DDIs. Disease severity, patient age, and organ dysfunction are all risk factors for increased DDIs. In general, DDIs can be broken down into two categories (1) pharmacokinetic interactions and (2) pharmacodynamic interactions. 

Some indications for plasma level monitoring include inadequate response, relapse, serious or persistent adverse effects, use of higher than standard doses, suspected toxicity, elderly patients, children and adolescents, pregnant patients, patients of African or Asian descent (because of slower metabolism), cardiac disease, suspected noncompliance, suspected pharmacokinetic drug interactions, and changing brands. 

Ciismon, M.L. (1998) Pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of cholinesterase inhibitors administered in Alzheimer s disease. Pharmacotherapy, 18, 47-54. 

---