DETECTION OF DRUG-DRUG INTERACTIONS CAUSED BY ANTI-HYPERTENSIVES: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Objective: This study aimed to detect drug-drug interactions (DDIs) induced by antihypertensives.Material and Method: 325 prescriptions containing at least one antihypertensive and a drug from a different pharmacological group, filled at a community pharmacy in Diyarbakir, were evaluated for DDIs between November 2022 and April 2023. Three DDI checking programs (RxMediaPharma, Medscape, and Drugs.com) were used for evaluations.Result and Discussion: Antihypertensives-induced DDIs were found in 232 of the prescriptions. Detected DDIs can be classified as: (i) 254 of the DDIs were due to beta blockers and occurred between 88 different active ingredient pairs, (ii) 73 of them were due to ACE inhibitors and occurred between 38 different active ingredient pairs, (iii) 113 of them were due to calcium channel blockers and occurred between 42 different active ingredient pairs, (iv) 128 of them were due to ARBs and occurred between 55 different active ingredient pairs, (v) 250 of them were due to diuretics and occurred between 93 different active ingredient pairs, and (vi) 7 of them were due to alpha blockers and occurred between 5 different active ingredient pairs. DDIs were mainly detected between metoprolol and aspirin. As a result, the prevalence of DDI was found to be high. The DDIs detected ranged from minor to serious, and DDI checking programs yielded varying results regarding the level of interaction.