POTENTIAL DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS ON A TERTIARY-CARE HOSPITAL CONSULTATION-LIAISON PSYCHIATRY SERVICE

Pharmacokinetic interactions involving the cytochrome P-450 system hav e been a recent focus of clinical and research interest in psychopharm acology. The authors reviewed 100 consecutive patients seen on a consu ltation-liaison (C-L) psychiatry service for potential drug-drug inter actions. The patients were taking a mean of 8.8 medications; Sor those undergoing organ transplantation the mean was 12.9. While both enzyme inhibitors (n = 87) and substrates (n = 89) were commonly used only r arely were they used in the same patient (n = 14). The authors conclud e that the potential for drug interactions on a: C-L psychiatry servic e is significant, necessitating awareness of this potential complicati on.