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How to Identify Prescription Medication Interactions

According to the FDA, about 40 percent of people in the U.S. take four or more prescription medications. While patients and doctors may be vigilant, a bad combination of certain medications may be missed. To be proactive in your health, it's important to recognize symptoms of a drug-drug interaction.

Things You'll Need

  • If you feel that you are having an adverse reaction to a medication combination, you'll need the following:
  • All the drugs you're on, including details on when they were taken
  • If you still have them, gather your prescriptions
  • Your medical records
  • Your physicians' names and phone numbers
  • A watch with a secondhand
  • The name and number of a close relative or neighbor
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Instructions

  1. Assess your body's reaction

    • 1

      As soon as you think you are having an adverse interaction, call your doctor. If your symptoms are becoming unbearable, call 9-1-1. Have a friend or a loved one with you when the ambulance arrives or ask if they can calmly drive you to the hospital. Call your doctor to tell her you're headed to the ER.

    • 2

      Changes in heartbeat may indicate a drug-drug interaction. To check your heart rate or pulse, place your first two fingers on your wrist next to the palm of your hand. Feel the pulse and use the watch's secondhand to calculate the number of times your heart beats in 15 seconds. Multiply that number by 4. That is your heart's beats per minute (bpm). A normal heart rate range is 60 to 100 bpm.

    • 3

      Changes in your breathing (respiration) may also indicate a drug-drug interaction. By using the watch, you can calculate your respiration by counting the number of times you exhale in 15 seconds and multiplying that by 4. That is your breaths per minute; a normal respiration range is 15 to 20 breaths per minute.

    • 4

      Note if you are vomiting, feverish, clammy, sweaty or having any kind of gastrointestinal distress. Note if there is any blood or strange color in your vomit or stools. Any changes in skin color (pallor) should also be noted. And look for any changes in your lips, eyes, toes and fingers.

    • 5

      If you take emergency transportation to the hospital, make sure the emergency medical technicians bring your medications and/or prescriptions. Also bring along any notes or information about your symptoms.

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