Lexi-Comp's Answer to Adverse Drug Events

During a recent international workshop at Marbach Castle in Lake Constance, Germany, more than 60 industry experts from over 11 countries participated in discussions regarding current guidelines in Europe and the USA on medicine interactions. While experts recognize the need for more research in the discipline, all agreed that the current guidelines – the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published a draft of the revised guideline just before the May 30 conference, and the FDA’s existing drug interaction guideline was published in 2006 – need changed.

The EMA’s most recent draft of their drug interaction guideline was discussed in detail at the workshop. Changes to the new guideline include the inclusion of transporter-based drug-drug interactions as well as interactions with OTC drugs, like herbal drugs, and food. The EMA expects to finalize the newest version by the end of 2011. In the U.S., the FDA is discussing making changes to the four-year-old guideline, but a new draft is yet to be published.

This workshop highlighted the increasing need for more research and scientific data on adverse drug events, especially now that the complexity and number of drug interactions is increasing. What the experts at this workshop didn't discuss, however, was how electronic drug interaction screening tools, like those included in Lexi-Comp’s vast product range, can greatly increase healthcare providers’ ability to increase patient safety and improve outcomes.

Although the verdict is still out regarding current drug-drug interaction guidelines in Europe and the USA, one this is clear: to avoid adverse drug events, clinicians must have access to clinical decision support information, such as drug interaction and alerts screening tools.