Drug Interactions Can Be Deadly

Most news stories will pass unnoticed during the collapse of world financial markets, so I wanted to draw attention to this news story, which is more personal and has the potential to save numerous lives.

Two years ago, Gary Neal's son died of a drug overdose at the age of 17. The young man consumed a combination of prescription medications and over-the-counter cold medicine, which happened before the unfortunate and untimely demise of Heath Ledger.

Since his son's death, Neal has worked with Partnership for a Drug-Free America to raise awareness about the dangers of prescription medication abuse. One of the dangers of prescription medications, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America, is the perception that prescription medications are safe.

Another troubling aspect of the problem that hasn't been stressed enough is the problem of drug interactions. When consumed at the same time, individual drugs can create synergistic chemical reactions in the body that either amplify the effects of a drug or create new side effects.

For example, an individual diagnosed with an under-active thyroid gland is typically prescribed a synthetic thyroid hormone, such as Synthroid. If this individual takes this medication at the same time as a strong cup of coffee or an allergy medication like Claritin, he or she could experience rapid heartbeat, palpitations and dizziness, to name a few symptoms.

Just because you buy it in a drug store doesn't mean it's safe to take in any situation and in combination with any medication your doctor has prescribed for you. You need to check for potential interactions, using a website like the Drug Interaction Checker.

Often interactions can be avoided by simply spacing the medication doses out 2-3 hours. Even if you've taken the medication before, combining it with almost anything can change the pharmacological dynamics.

Better safe than sorry, right?