WASHINGTON,
May 9 -- One-fifth of patients with schizophrenia receive prescriptions
for drugs that can cause dangerous interactions when taken in
combination, a researcher said here.
Significant adverse effects
were rare, but between 18% and 22% of Ohio Medicaid patients under
treatment for schizophrenia were given prescriptions for an
antipsychotic and one or more other drugs with well-known interaction
potential by the same physician or pharmacy, reported Jeff Guo, Ph.D.,
of the University of Cincinnati.
What's more, 11% to 12% of
patients received prescriptions for such dangerous drug combinations
from the same provider on the same day, Dr. Guo told attendees at the
American Psychiatric Association meeting.
Action Points
- Explain
to interested patients that the study found about 20% of schizophrenic
patients got prescriptions for drugs that can interact with
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