Research Articles
Possible drug-drug interactions in the prescriptions of discharged patients at National Hospital Sri Lanka in Colombo
Authors:
P. W. G. D. P. Samarasekara ,
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About P. W. G. D. P.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
R. A. N. Dilsha,
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About R. A. N.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
A. S. D. Wickramasinghe,
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About A. S. D.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
D. H. Pathirana,
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About D. H.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
L. R. Sendanayake,
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About L. R.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
S. Wijekoon,
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About S.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
H. A. D. B. Amarasiri
The Open University of Sri Lanka, LK
About H. A. D. B.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences
Abstract
Drug-Drug Interactions (DDIs) can be defined as an alteration of the desired therapeutic response of one drug by another drug when two or more drugs are administered simultaneously. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in ten randomly selected medical wards at the Colombo National Hospital, Sri Lanka. Discharged prescriptions (132) were examined using software; Drugs.com, and National Formularies (British National Formulary, Australian Medicine Handbook) for DDIs. Out of 132 discharged prescriptions, 41.6% were detected with possible DDIs. Out of the total found interactions, 16.4% were major and 83.6% were moderate (in 46 prescriptions) as per the severity level in the above Formularies. The most frequent (n = 24) DDI was between Clopidogrel and Aspirin with a moderate severity level. Major DDIs were reported with Furosemide + Amiodarone (n = 06) and Losartan + Amlodipine (n = 6). There was a significant relationship between the age and the presence of DDIs in discharged prescriptions (p = 0.0341). The prevalence of possible DDIs in the discharged prescription of elderly people needs to be considered even with the significant absence of major DDI as per the study. More emphasis on the DDI detection process in discharged prescriptions could improve medication safety and prevent medication-associated hospital readmissions.
How to Cite:
Samarasekara, P. W. G. D. P., Dilsha, R. A. N., Wickramasinghe, A. S. D., Pathirana, D. H., Sendanayake, L. R., Wijekoon, S., & Amarasiri, H. A. D. B. (2022). Possible drug-drug interactions in the prescriptions of discharged patients at National Hospital Sri Lanka in Colombo. Ceylon Journal of Science, 51(5), 603–607. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/cjs.v51i5.8087
Published on
31 Dec 2022.
Peer Reviewed
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