Impact of a Web-based clinical information system on cisapride drug interactions and patient safety.

Abstract

THE ENORMOUS number of medications available today makes it difficult for clinicians to remember all clinically significant drug interactions. Computerized drug-interaction checking systems are capable of detecting a large number of interactions, but even these systems may not prevent patients from receiving potentially harmful drug combinations.^1-9 If these programs are not updated in a timely manner, newly discovered drug interactions or interactions with recently marketed medications may go unrecognized. This has become an increasingly important limitation, as illustrated by the growing list of agents contraindicated with cisapride and the market withdrawals of astemizole, mibefradil dihydrochloride, and terfenadine.^10-14