Drug Interactions

Drug interactions can alter a drug's effectiveness, leading to either increased risk of blood clots or bleeding, particularly with anticoagulants. Monitoring is essential to manage these interactions.

Drug interactions occur when a substance (drug, food, or supplement) affects the activity of a drug, either increasing or decreasing its effectiveness or increasing the risk of adverse effects. In the specific case mentioned, the drug can interfere with the metabolism, absorption, or excretion of anticoagulant medications like Warfarin. This interference can lead to either a subtherapeutic anticoagulant effect (increasing the risk of blood clots) or an excessive anticoagulant effect (increasing the risk of bleeding). The severity of the interaction depends on factors such as the dosage of the drugs involved, individual patient characteristics (e.g., age, genetics, liver function), and other co-administered medications. Regular monitoring of anticoagulant levels is crucial when these interactions are suspected.