Psychiatria pre prax 2/2016

Drug interactions in psychiatry in theory and in practice

Drug interactions are one of the common drug-related problems in modern medicine. In this review the mechanisms of drug-drug interactions (DDI) of antipsychotics and antidepresants are presented as well as common guidenance for general approach to DDIs in medical praxis. Many of the DDIs in psychiatric praxis are generated by pharmacokinetic action between interacting drugs, where their plasma concentrations are changed by inhibition or induction of cytochrom P 450 isoenzymes, mainly by CYP2D6 or CYP3A4, and of P-glycoprotein. Prescribing physicians should consider risks and benefits of combined drug therapy in individual patients and take measures to minimize the adverse drug reactions.

Keywords: drug-drug interactions, antipsychotic drugs, antidepresives, QT interval prolongation, serotonine syndrome