Cytochrome P450 drug interactions: Are they clinically relevant?

Abstract

The cytochrome P450 system is an evolutionary system to deal with the breakdown of endogenous and exogenous chemicals in the body. There is an increasing amount of interest in this area as new information is enabling us to understand why people metabolise drugs differently and why there is a spectrum of adverse effects in different people. Understanding the cytochrome P450 system also explains the mechanisms of some drug interactions, and enables us to predict which of these are likely to be relevant in clinical practice.