Patient-oriented strategies for the prevention of drug interactions

Drug interactions are a common and serious problem arising from polypharmac y. Strategies to reduce the likelihood of the co-prescription of hazardous drug combinations are likely to enhance the quality of care provided for pa tients requiring polypharmacotherapy. Drugs for which patient-oriented info rmation strategies may decrease the likelihood of drug interactions tend to be those of low therapeutic index, and have interaction potential with oth er drugs commonly prescribed or available without prescription.