“Combining Medications Can Put Your Health at Risk”: Pharmacist Lists Five Dangerous Drug Combinations to Avoid

Taking multiple medications simultaneously can lead to serious side effects and health risks. Pharmacist Abbas Kanani from Chemist Click has identified five dangerous drug combinations that should be avoided to ensure safe medication use.

As many people rely on various medications throughout their lives—ranging from common over-the-counter drugs like paracetamol and ibuprofen to more specialized prescriptions such as blood pressure tablets or antidepressants—it’s crucial to be cautious about potential drug interactions.

Kanani warns, “Combining medications can put your health at risk and may increase side effects or cause more severe health issues.” He explains that new symptoms might arise from drug interactions, which could be mistaken for new conditions, while effectiveness could also be diminished, jeopardizing proper treatment.

Kanani elaborates on the possible consequences of drug interactions: “The opposite can also happen where the effectiveness is reduced which can put you at risk of not having the correct dosage for your condition.” Interactions can severely impact blood pressure, and heart rate, and may even lead to organ damage, particularly if medications are metabolized by the same organs like the liver or kidneys. Chronic use of interacting drugs may also increase the risk of allergic reactions, ranging from mild rashes to severe anaphylaxis.

Here are the five medicinal combinations to avoid, as reported by the Express:

1. Over-the-Counter Anti-Inflammatory Drugs with Blood Thinners Combining drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen with blood thinners such as warfarin can increase bleeding risks. Kanani points out, “Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can increase the risk of bleeding when taken with blood thinners. Both medications affect blood clotting, and gastrointestinal bleeding can occur.”
2. Certain Antibiotics with Statins Antibiotics such as erythromycin and clarithromycin, when used with statins, can heighten the risk of muscle damage known as rhabdomyolysis. “Antibiotics can increase the concentration of statins in the blood,” Kanani adds.
3. Migraine Medication and Antidepressants The combination of triptans for acute migraines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) can elevate serotonin levels to dangerous levels, leading to serotonin syndrome. Kanani explains that this condition can manifest as mild symptoms like shivering and diarrhea or severe symptoms such as muscle rigidity, fever, and seizures.
4. Oral Contraceptives and Certain Antibiotics Some antibiotics, like rifampin, can reduce the effectiveness of birth control pills. “Some antibiotics can decrease the effectiveness of birth control tablets,” Kanani warns.
5. Antacids and Certain Antibiotics Antacids can interfere with the absorption of antibiotics such as tetracycline and ciprofloxacin by binding to them. Kanani advises, “Take antibiotics two hours before, or four hours after acid reflux medication.”

Kanani stresses the importance of consulting with a GP or pharmacist when taking multiple medications and suggests regular check-ups and blood tests to monitor and adjust dosages as needed to avoid adverse effects.