Pharmacology. Drug Interaction
Introduction
Over 797 drugs can interact with methotrexate(Piccione et al., 2015). The interaction between methotrexate-Aspirin and prednisone is well understood. Methotrexate is a drug employed in the treatment of cancer since the drug interferes with the growth of certain types of cells, such as cancerous cells. The drug is also therefore used in the treatment of cancer of the lung, neck and the head(Piccione et al., 2015). Aspirin is simply a synthetic drug used in the relieving of pain. Aspirin is also used in the reduction of inflammation as well as fever. Prednisone drug used in the treatment of diseases such as skin condition, multiple sclerosis, arthritis as well as severe allergies.
The interaction between prednisone and aspirin is associated with increased side of the gastrointestinal tract. The GTI associated complication include perforation, ulceration, bleeding, and inflammation(Mekinian et al., 2015). The perforation of the GTI is a fatal condition in which holes are formed from in the GTI. As a result of the complicated side effects of the GTI, these drugs should be taken with food. The bioavailability of aspirin as is significantly reduced when used together with prednisone. Patients are required to take more dosages of aspirin when used together with prednisone.
The interaction between methotrexate and aspirin increases the effects of the methotrexate in the body. The combination of the aspirin and methotrexate causes the side effects such as shortness of breath, swelling of the extremities, dark urine, pale skin, unusual bruising or bleeding, rash, fever, chill among others(Singh et al, 2014). The dosage of the methotrexate should be reduced when patients are using the drug with aspirin.
The interaction between prednisone and methotrexate increases the amount of methotrexate in blood (Otles et al., 2014).The use is also associated with various side effects such as vomiting among others.
Conclusion
Doctors and other healthcare professionals need to understand the associated side effects arising from the drug interaction. Doses administered to the patients needs to be adjusted as a result of these side effects.
Reference
Mekinian, A., Lazzaroni, M. G., Kuzenko, A., Alijotas-Reig, J., Ruffatti, A., Levy, P., …&Dhote, R. (2015). The efficacy of hydroxychloroquine for obstetrical outcome in anti-phospholipid syndrome: data from a European multicenter retrospective study. Autoimmunity reviews, 14(6), 498-502.
Otles, S., &Senturk, A. (2014). Food and drug interactions: a general review. ActaScientiarumPolonorumTechnologiaAlimentaria, 13(1), 89-102.
Piccione, E., Salame, K., Garratt, B., Cohen, M., & Shapiro, B. E. (2015). Fatal Calciphylaxis Presenting as Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis. Journal of clinical neuromuscular disease, 17(2), 94-95.
Singh, M., Chaudhary, S., Azizi, S., & Green, J. (2014). Gastrointestinal drug interactions affecting the elderly. Clinics in geriatric medicine, 30(1), 1-15.
