Diug Interactions

Interaction in which the combined effect is the sum of the effects of each diug administered separately. 

Interactions resulting from a change in the amount of diug reaching the site of action are called pharmacokinetic interactions (Fig. 1). A co-administered diug can affect any of the processes of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of the original diug, which are determinants of its pharmacokinetic profile [1-3]. 

Diug metabolism, to predict whether a diug candidate will cause drug-drug interactions... 

Diugs with metabolic interactions that can enhance the half-life of active compounds. An example of this regimen is the interaction between azole- and vitamin D-deiivatives that inhibit the metabolism of retinoids in skin cells leading to increased intracellular amounts of active RA-isomers. Further study and the identification of novel interactions of this type ofdtug interaction is of great clinical interest since they may decrease the dose of retinoids required for efficacy thereby also reducing the risk of side effects of the retinoids. 

Currently, the majority of all approved diugs for treating insomnia interact with the GABAa receptor system. The major focus of the rest of this overview will therefore be on these types of dtugs and the introduction of two novel approaches, either recently approved or in late stage development. 

Although no drugs directly targeting the sterol transporters described above are available, the function of several lipid lowering diugs is associated with interaction with ABCA1. 

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