What is one potential consequence of drug-drug interactions?

One potential consequence of drug-drug interactions is altered drug efficacy. This occurs when the presence of one drug affects the therapeutic effect or action of another drug. For instance, one drug may enhance the effectiveness of another, leading to an increased risk of side effects or toxicity, or it might diminish the action of the second drug, resulting in reduced therapeutic effects. Understanding drug-drug interactions is crucial for clinicians to optimize patient treatment plans and avoid adverse reactions.

While increased absorption and decreased side effects may be considerations related to drug interactions, they do not capture the broad and often critical impact that can result from altering how effectively a drug works. Improved drug stability is not typically a direct outcome of drug-drug interactions either.