Drug-Drug Interactions Seen in 21.4 Percent of Children With Meds Exposure

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, Jan. 4, 2024 -- More than 20 percent of children with two or more medication exposures experience major drug-drug interactions (DDIs) annually, according to a study published online Jan. 4 in Pediatrics.

Kathryn E. Kyler, M.D., from Children's Mercy Kansas City in Missouri, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study of children aged 0 to 18 years with one or more ambulatory encounter and two or more dispensed outpatient prescriptions to examine the prevalence of major DDI exposure and factors associated with higher DDI exposure rates among children in an outpatient setting. Data were included for 781,019 children with two or more medication exposures.

The researchers found that 21.4 percent of the children experienced one or more major DDI exposures. Increased odds of DDI exposure were seen in association with age and with medical and mental health complexity. Clonidine, psychiatric medications, and asthma medications were frequently implicated drugs. Per 100 children included, the highest adverse physiologic effect exposure rate was for increased drug concentrations, central nervous system depression, and heart rate-corrected QT interval prolongation (14.6, 13.6, and 9.9, respectively).

"Prescribers should consider how and when to counsel patients about the risk of adverse drug events associated with DDIs, or when to simply monitor for adverse drug events in patients knowingly exposed to DDIs when the risk/benefit balance is favorable," the authors write.

Two authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-01-05 22:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords