INTRODUCTION: Drug interaction constitutes a major challenge in elderly cancer patients. This study investigated the number and types of medications patients and potential drug interactions in these patients. METHODS: Treatments received by 105 cancer outpatients aged ≥70 years were analyzed using the French Thesaurus to identify drug-drug interactions according to four levels: contraindication, concomitant use not recommended, concomitant medications requiring precautions and concomitant medications to be taken into account. RESULTS: The mean number of medications per patient was 4.7 (range: 0-14). Among 97 patients taking ≥2 drugs, 45 potential interactions were identified, occurring in 32 patients. No contraindication, 2 cases of concomitant use not recommended, 9 cases requiring precautions (20%) and 34 cases of concomitant medications to be taken into account were identified. Drug interactions caused respiratory distress and increased bleeding risk. CONCLUSION: Drug interactions are common in the elderly, but almost half of interactions were moderate.
INTRODUCTION: Drug interaction constitutes a major challenge in elderly cancerpatients. This study investigated the number and types of medications patients and potential drug interactions in these patients. METHODS: Treatments received by 105 cancer outpatients aged ≥70 years were analyzed using the French Thesaurus to identify drug-drug interactions according to four levels: contraindication, concomitant use not recommended, concomitant medications requiring precautions and concomitant medications to be taken into account. RESULTS: The mean number of medications per patient was 4.7 (range: 0-14). Among 97 patients taking ≥2 drugs, 45 potential interactions were identified, occurring in 32 patients. No contraindication, 2 cases of concomitant use not recommended, 9 cases requiring precautions (20%) and 34 cases of concomitant medications to be taken into account were identified. Drug interactions caused respiratory distress and increased bleeding risk. CONCLUSION: Drug interactions are common in the elderly, but almost half of interactions were moderate.
Authors: Carolyn T Thorpe; Holly C Lassila; Christine K O'Neil; Joshua M Thorpe; Joseph T Hanlon; Robert L Maher Journal: Am J Geriatr Pharmacother Date: 2012-02
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