Drug interaction resources: Mind the gaps

Abstract

Drug interactions can lead to significant toxicity or loss of clinical effect. The risks increase with the number of drugs the patient takes. General and specialised drug interaction resources are available. Access to up-to-date electronic resources is encouraged. There are gaps in the information on interactions for new drugs, those with complicated metabolism and drugs with limited use. It may be necessary to use multiple resources to find the information. When assessing information about interactions, clinicians should evaluate the relevance for each patient. In high-risk situations, expert advice can be valuable. Clinicians should report new or unusual drug interactions to the Therapeutic Goods Administration.