The Potential Drug-Drug Interactions in Alzheimer Patients’ Treatment

Authors : Mehtap SAVRAN, Halil AŞCI, Nihat ŞENGEZE, Özgür ÖNAL, Serpil DEMİRCİ

Pages : 381-388

Doi:10.22312/sdusbed.599102

View : 32 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2019-12-13

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective : Advanced age, as a cause of increased prevalence of co-morbidities, is one of the main risk factors for Alzheimer disease.  Co-morbidities accompanying the Alzheimer as well as the disease itself elicit polypharmacy which means two or more drugs used concomitantly. One of the undesirable results of polypharmacy is potential drug-drug interactions insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(pDDI);. The study aimed to evaluate the pDDIs in Alzheimer patients. Material-Method: Files of patient who applied to a XXX Outpatient Clinic of a tertiary hospital in XXX between 2016-2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Rate of polypharmacy, presence and type of pDDI were determinated. Results: In the analyses of 115 files, mean age was 75.13 + 9.38 and frequency of polypharmacy was calculated as 53.9%. Presence of 3 or more co-morbidites was associated with polypharmacy. pDDI was detected in 77.4% of patients and type C interaction was the most common type. Quetiapine, citalopram/escitalopram, donepezil, risperidone and acetylsalicylic acid were the five drugs that interacted with the maximum number of other medications. Conclusion: The rate of polypharmacy and pDDI as a consequence of polypharmacy could be higher in Alzheimer patients. Some pDDIs could impair the therapeutic effects of Alzheimer drugs in addition to undesirable effects. So the pDDI should be kept in mind when a new drug should be added to Alzheimer patient. 
Keywords : Alzheimers disease, potential drug drug interaction, elderly, polypharmacy