What is a drug interaction?

A drug interaction occurs when one medication influences the activity or effectiveness of another medication. This can happen in various ways; for instance, one drug may enhance or diminish the effects of another, potentially leading to unforeseen side effects or decreased therapeutic outcomes. Understanding drug interactions is crucial for ensuring patient safety and the efficacy of treatment regimens.

While simultaneous prescriptions of two drugs may seem logical, it is the actual physiological impact they have on each other that defines a drug interaction, rather than just their co-prescription. Similarly, taking a drug with food or improper storage does not constitute a direct interaction between two medications, but rather pertains to factors that can influence the absorption or stability of the drug itself. Thus, the essence of a drug interaction centers around the specific effects that one drug has on another.