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Tracy Hampton, PhD

JAMA. 2006;296:2191-2192.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

While medications are lifesaving for millions of individuals, taking particular combinations can be a recipe for disaster. Several studies have found that it is not uncommon for patients to be prescribed medications that can interact dangerously with one another. In addition, physicians often fail to provide patients with all of the information they need about new medications.

Such situations can endanger patients, many of whom take a number of different pills for various conditions. Because of this, experts say, physicians need to reexamine their prescribing practices.

Recent studies reveal that many patients receive prescriptions for drugs that can interact dangerously with one another and often are not told important information about newly prescribed medications. (Photo credit: Michael P. Gadomski/www.sciencesource.com)

WARFARIN DRUG INTERACTIONS

The anticoagulant warfarin is just one example of a potentially dangerous prescription. Individuals have varying responses to the drug, and interactions with other common drugs can . . . [Full Text of this Article]