Adverse Drug Reactions - Part I
Course Number: 536
Course Contents
Pharmacodynamic Drug-drug Interactions
Pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions occur when one drug alters the response of target and non-target tissues to another drug.6 The intended or unintended effect produced by a given plasma level of a drug may result from chronic use or the presence of one or more drugs that lead to (1) changes in the number of available receptors or their ability to respond; or lead to (2) pharmacological, (3) physiological, and (4) chemical drug interactions, which at times may also be used to therapeutic advantage (Table 3).6
Table 3. Pharmacodynamic Drug-drug Interactions.
| Type | Mechanisms |
|---|---|
| Receptor alteration | Drug A, when administered chronically, decreases the number of its own receptors or alters the adaptability of receptors to physiological events |
| Drug A, when administered chronically, increase the number of its own receptors or alters the adaptability of receptors to physiological events | |
| Pharmacological | Drug A (an antagonist) and drug B (an agonist) compete for the same receptor site and as a function of their respective concentrations either prevent (antagonist) or produce (agonist) an effect |
| Physiological | Drug A and drug B interact with different receptors and enhance each other’s action via different cellular mechanisms |
| Drug A and drug B interact with different receptors and produce opposing effects via different cellular mechanisms | |
| Chemical | Drug A interacts with drug B and prevents drug B from interacting with its intended receptor |
One example of a pharmacodynamic drug-drug ADR is the interaction between NSAIDs and antihypertensive agents. The inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by NSAIDs increases vascular tone, which decreases the efficacy of antihypertensive drugs.9 Another example is the pharmacological drug-drug interaction between epinephrine and β1-adrenergic receptor blocking agents. Since the β1-adrenergic receptors are blocked, unopposed α1-adrenergic receptor activation by epinephrine, although apparently rare in the dental setting, can potentially result in a hypertensive reaction.10
Two examples of beneficial drug-drug interactions are as follows. Epinephrine activates α1-adrenergic-receptors causing vasoconstriction, thereby delaying the systemic absorption of LAs, and increasing LAs' duration of action.10 Phentolamine mesylate, a competitive α1-adrenergic-receptor antagonist, when injected at the site of LA administration reverses the action of epinephrine as a function of its concentration causing vasodilation, increasing the rate of systemic absorption, and shortening the duration of soft tissues anesthesia.11