Prophylaxis, Antibiotic Health Article

Interactions

Whether used to treat or to prevent infection, antibiotics may interact with other medicines. When this happens, the effects of one or both of the drugs may change or the risk of side effects may be greater. Anyone who takes antibiotics for any reason should inform the physician about all the other medicines he or she is taking and should ask whether any possible interactions may interfere with drugs' effects. For details of drug interactions, the candidate is advised to see entries on specific types of antibiotics.

BOOKS

AHFS: Drug Information. Washington DC: American Society Healthsystems Pharmaceuticals, 2002.

Reynolds, J.E.F., ed. Martindale The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 31st ed. London: The Pharmaceutical Press, 1993.

Brody, T.M., J. Larner, K.P. Minneman, and H.C. Neu. Human Pharmacology: Molecular to Clinical, 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby Year-Book.

PERIODICALS

Braffman-Miller, Judith. "Beware the Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Microbes." USA Today (Magazine) 125 (March 1997): 56.

"Consumer Alert: Antibiotic Resistance Is Growing!" People's Medical Society Newsletter 16 (August 1997): 1.

Guthrie, P. "Doctors, Patients Must Act Together to Save Antibiotics' Potency, Experts Say." Atlanta Journal-Constitution (March 19, 2003).

Nancy Ross-Flanigan Sam Uretsky, PharmD