An Assessment of Azithromycin Prescribed Interactions’ at the Outpatient Setting
Nehad J. Ahmed *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Altaf Ali Mangi
Faculty of Pharmacy, Gomal University Dera Ismail Khan, KPK, Pakistan.
Menshawy A. Menshawy
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Ziyad S. Almalki *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed A. Alhajri
Department of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: The present study was designed to identify and assess the severity of azithromycin interactions with other drugs in the outpatient setting in Alkharj.
Methodology: A retrospective analysis was performed of azithromycin prescriptions in the outpatient setting in a public hospital in Alkharj in order to determine the incidence of interactions between azithromycin and other medications.
Results: There were 182 prescriptions included in the study. There was a major interaction in only 1 prescription (0.55%) and moderate interactions in 15.30% of the prescriptions. So the percentage of overall interactions was about 20.88%. The most common drug interactions in the present study were between azithromycin and salbutamol.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that the interactions between azithromycin with other medications were common, but these interactions could lead to irregular heart rhythm and lead to muscle pain and weakness. Adoption of international standard and locally conformable guidelines of antibiotic use can help in avoiding such problems.
Keywords: Azithromycin, drug Interactions, DDIs, outpatient.