Drug interactions information sources

First DataBank s Evaluations of Drug Interactions (EDI) provides the most comprehensive printed source of drug-drug interaction information available. Containing interactions on both prescription and over-the-counter drugs, this two-volume loose-leaf textbook of drug monographs is the only source endorsed by the American Pharmaceutical Association. 

In 2009, in the UK, drugs are increasingly available over the counter and on-line without prescription. Furthermore, there is widespread use of numerous herbal medicines from relatively under-regulated suppliers and the constituents of such products are often not known, This clinical reality of the widespread use of potent medicines - be they allopathic or traditional - showed us the need for a practical hands-on guide that aims to be a compact, succinct and accessible source of information for practitioners, prescribers and the public about adverse drug interactions,... 

As nutraceuticals are not classified as medicinal products, their manufacture is often not legally regulated. Nutraceuticals are widely available for sale, and the many suppliers may formulate their products differently this leads to variations between products of different manufacturers. Products available for purchase are not necessarily of the same quality as those used in reported clinical trials. For effective and safe use, the products must contain the same active ingredient, at the same concentration, have known bioavailability per delivery system, and state detailed and correct information on packaging or patient leaflet. However, possibly due to purchase from non-pharmaceutical sources such as the Internet, there is often little information on efficacy, drug interactions, effect of long-term use, abrupt discontinuation, or potential adverse effects available to patients. 

The following information was taken originally from a comprehensive listing of dmg interactions published in New Zealand (R. Ferguson. Drug Interactions of Clinical Significance, I.M.S., New Zealand, 1977). This selection is intended for illustrative purposes only and must not be used as a definitive source. 

Pharmacists should be aware of the differences in safety standards and regulatory control between drugs and dietary supplements (Table 1). When counseling people about dietary products, pharmacists must be aware that the DSHEA allows the promotion of substances that may have variable potency, unidentified components, unproven efficacy, and unknown adverse effects. The DSHEA does not require warnings about drug interactions or medical conditions under which a dietary supplement should not be used. In view of the liberal labeling provisions of the DSHEA, pharmacists cannot trust dietary supplement company literature and should consult reliable information sources (Table 2)." ... 

Decision support on drug interaction at multiple points using the same patient record and drug information sources... 

Each chapter is followed by one or more case studies to illustrate the clinical use of drugs and problems that may arise from drug-drug interactions and adverse reactions. The situations are not based on any particular individuals rather information has been gathered from many sources including my colleagues in physiotherapy and podiatry and used to construct the cases. 

The information discussed in this section is general, and tlie contraindications, precautions, and interactions for each antineoplastic drug vary. The nurse should consult appropriate sources before administering any antineoplastic drug. 

Consider a molecular structure, which is the most important unifying information model in chemistry. Molecular structures appear in knowledgebases that represent catalogs of commercially available chemicals, pharmacology of named drugs, natural sources of bioactive molecules, protein-ligand interactions, measured molecular bioactivities, metabolic pathways, abstracted research literature, databases of synthetic reactions, and so on. 

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