Complex Medication Regimens in Patients With Lung Disease

by Ramya Rachamanti on February 22, 2019 at 4:57 PM

Patients with interstitial lung disease--a group of disorders with progressive scarring of lung tissue, are often prescribed various common medications to target their disease specifically and to treat their symptoms.

A new Respirology study found that patients often experience significant burden associated with the treatment and management of their illness, and some are at risk of experiencing drug-disease interactions, or adverse outcomes that arise after receiving a drug that exacerbates their disease.

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‘An approach with careful evaluation prior to treatment is essential to reduce treatment complexity and complications.’
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Among the 214 patients in the study, more than two-thirds were taking five or more medications. The potential for experiencing drug-disease interactions was especially high for patients who were prescribed systemic corticosteroids.

"It's exciting that we now have treatments with better evidence for managing patients with interstitial lung disease; however, a holistic approach with careful evaluation prior to treatment initiation is important to minimize treatment complexity and complications," said lead author Dr. Yet Khor, of Austin Health, in Australia.

Source: Eurekalert