Drug-drug interactions are unintended reactions, toxic side effects, or a lack of clinical efficacy in the body of an individual when multiple medications are simultaneously administered for one or more diseases.
In Pharmacology, drug-drug interactions are usually considered in terms of two principal classes of underlying mechanisms: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic ones. Indeed, the pharmacological effect of one or both drugs may be increased or decreased, or a new and unanticipated adverse effect may be produced.
Concerning pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions may result in alterations of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME cycle).
Interactions between drugs at metabolic level can modify the metabolic enzymes altering drug activation or inactivation. If the metabolism of a drug is inhibited, it will remain longer in the body, so that its concentration will increase, potentially causing secondary toxic effects. Conversely, Increasing the metabolism of a drug can decrease its body concentration and its therapeutic effect.
Pharmacodynamically, drugs can interact by binding to the same receptor. Two receptor agonists or two antagonists would increase pharmacological actions of both, whereas an agonist and an antagonist would decrease each other’s pharmacological effects. In some interactions, drugs may produce biochemical changes that alter the sensitivity to toxicities produced by other drugs. Finally, when drugs and/or their metabolites are excreted by the kidney, one drug may alter kidney function so that the excretion the other is increased or decreased.
Finally, whereas in the majority of cases, drug-drug interactions can cause toxic adverse effects (eg. beta-blockers and bronchodilators; diuretics and steroids or digoxin; rifampicin and verapamil or carbamazepine), there are also a number of therapeutically beneficial drug interactions (eg. docetaxel and piperine; resveratrol and diclofenac; ivermectin and lopinavir or saquinavir).
Classifying, describing and reporting drug-drug interaction provides important insights into how to predict, detect, and avoid adverse interactions, decreasing the pharmacological action or finally beneficial effects.
This Research Topic will host original investigations, brief reports and review papers concerning the latest insights into drug-drug interactions.
Drug-drug interactions are unintended reactions, toxic side effects, or a lack of clinical efficacy in the body of an individual when multiple medications are simultaneously administered for one or more diseases.
In Pharmacology, drug-drug interactions are usually considered in terms of two principal classes of underlying mechanisms: pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetic ones. Indeed, the pharmacological effect of one or both drugs may be increased or decreased, or a new and unanticipated adverse effect may be produced.
Concerning pharmacokinetics, drug-drug interactions may result in alterations of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME cycle).
Interactions between drugs at metabolic level can modify the metabolic enzymes altering drug activation or inactivation. If the metabolism of a drug is inhibited, it will remain longer in the body, so that its concentration will increase, potentially causing secondary toxic effects. Conversely, Increasing the metabolism of a drug can decrease its body concentration and its therapeutic effect.
Pharmacodynamically, drugs can interact by binding to the same receptor. Two receptor agonists or two antagonists would increase pharmacological actions of both, whereas an agonist and an antagonist would decrease each other’s pharmacological effects. In some interactions, drugs may produce biochemical changes that alter the sensitivity to toxicities produced by other drugs. Finally, when drugs and/or their metabolites are excreted by the kidney, one drug may alter kidney function so that the excretion the other is increased or decreased.
Finally, whereas in the majority of cases, drug-drug interactions can cause toxic adverse effects (eg. beta-blockers and bronchodilators; diuretics and steroids or digoxin; rifampicin and verapamil or carbamazepine), there are also a number of therapeutically beneficial drug interactions (eg. docetaxel and piperine; resveratrol and diclofenac; ivermectin and lopinavir or saquinavir).
Classifying, describing and reporting drug-drug interaction provides important insights into how to predict, detect, and avoid adverse interactions, decreasing the pharmacological action or finally beneficial effects.
This Research Topic will host original investigations, brief reports and review papers concerning the latest insights into drug-drug interactions.
