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Medicine vocabulary · Prescriptions and Medication

Drug interaction

Meaning in medicine, with examples

nounCommon term

In medicine, drug interaction means: A change in how a medicine works or how strong it is, caused by another medicine, a food or a drink taken at the same time.

In Turkish: ilaç etkileşimi

How it is used

Doctors and pharmacists check for drug interactions, often with a formulary or software, especially in older patients on many medicines. Classic examples involve warfarin, some antibiotics and grapefruit juice. An interaction can make a drug weaker or more toxic.

Example sentences

  1. The pharmacist flagged a drug interaction between the new antibiotic and her warfarin.

  2. Polypharmacy increases the risk of a serious drug interaction.

Common collocations

  • check for drug interactions
  • serious drug interaction
  • potential drug interaction
  • drug-drug interaction
  • medicationA substance used to treat, prevent or relieve the symptoms of a disease; also the whole set of drugs a patient takes.
  • side effectAn effect of a medicine or treatment that is not the main one intended, and is often unwanted, such as drowsiness or an upset stomach.
  • drug historyThe part of the history that lists every medicine a patient takes, including over-the-counter and herbal products, plus any drug allergies.
  • contraindicationA condition or situation that makes a particular drug, test or procedure unsafe or unsuitable for a patient.
  • anticoagulantA medicine that makes the blood take longer to clot, used to prevent or treat clots in conditions such as atrial fibrillation and DVT.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

More terms: Prescriptions and Medication

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.