Evaluation of Pregnant and Lactating Women's Prescriptions for Drug-drug Interactions (DDI) And Contraindications

IntroductionIn the pregnancy cycle and lactation period women may develop complications. Thus, special attention to pharmacotherapy is necessary, particularly to drug interactions (DDIs) and to the effect of the drugs on the foetus and the mother. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the profile of DDIs, and the risk of drugs used during pregnancy and breastfeeding among patients admitted in different hospitals. MethodologyWe conducted an observational and prospective study, including pregnant and breastfeeding women admitted to the different hospitals and clinics of KPK, PUNJAB and SINDH. Online databases were used to identify and classify the DDIs, and the potential risk of the drugs used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. ResultsOn the basis of subgroups data was evaluated for pregnant and lactating women. 128 (62.0%) of the women involved in their research were pregnant women and 78 (38.0%) of them were lactating women. In pregnant women number of interactions found were 91 (42.52%) while in lactating women number of interactions found were 123 (57.48%). Total contraindicated drugs prescribed in the prescriptions of pregnant and lactating women were 4 which was 0.48% of the total drugs prescribed from which 3 (75%) were found in prescriptions of pregnant women and 1 (15%) was found in prescription of a lactating women. ConclusionOur study demonstrated a significant number of drug- drug interactions in both pregnant and lactating mothers due to complexity in prescribed pharmacotherapy. Most of the interactions found in our prescriptions had minor to major severity level. A little percent of contraindicated drugs was also seen which could be easily substituted with safer medicine.