Common CCU Medications

lated two charts that serve as guidelines to drug interactions: one identifies physical incompatibilities and the other indicates possible pharmacological interactions. The chart of physical incompatibilities is offered without explanation, except to say that the incompatibilities are demonstrated by such physical means as cloudiness and precipitation. Drug interaction is the phenomenon that occurs when one drug alters the effect of another drug given with it or during its span of action. A drug effect may be potentiated. antagonized, or otherwise changed by its specific interaction with another drug. These interactions can be detrimental or therapeutic. In fact, many drug regimens prescribed for a patient are based on the expected interaction of the drugs. There are several mechanisms by which these drug interactions occur in the body: both drugs may have similar or opposite pharmacological effects; a drug may alter the gastrointestinal absorption of another drug; drug metabolism may be changed; excretion may be affected; electrolyte levels may be altered; drugs may act in the same body area, for example, the adrenergic neuron; or they may compete for protein-binding sites. These invisible mechanisms provide the framework for pharmacological drug interactions.