Provider Notification: Drug-Drug Interactions
Date: 02/23/17
As you know, quality health care is a high priority for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS considers drug-drug interactions an important quality measure that should be monitored. Drug-drug interactions are monitored to ensure patients’ therapeutic regimens are both safe and effective. CMS measures the use of drugs with potential drug-drug interactions based on a list of drugs identified by the Pharmacy Quality Alliance (PQA). A list of some of these drugs is included in the table below:
| Target Drug(s) or Drug Class | Contraindictated Drug(s) or Drug Class |
|---|---|
Benzodiazepines | Azole antifungal agents |
carbamazepine | Clarithromycin, erythromycin, telithromycin |
cyclosporine | rifamycins |
digoxin | clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin, telithromycin |
Ergot alkaloids | clarithromycin, erythromycin, azithromycin |
estrogen/progestin oral contraceptives | Rifamycins |
MAO Inhibitors | Sympathomimetics, Serotonergic Agents |
methotrexate | Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole |
Nitrates | Phosphodiesterase inhibitors |
simvastatin (40mg & 80mg) | amiodarone |
theophylline | ciprofloxacin, fluvoxamine |
mercaptopurine | allopurinol |
warfarin | trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
Please note: this is not a complete table of all potential drug-drug interactions
Please be aware of the potential for drug-drug interactions when prescribing medications for your patients. Being cognizant of these drug interactions when choosing therapy will allow you to make the most appropriate therapy choices and help prevent avoidable adverse drug reactions.
In the future in an effort to strive for the highest quality care, you may receive information about drug-drug interactions for your patients.
For more information regarding the PQA measure for drug-drug interactions, please see: http://www.qualitymeasures.ahrq.gov/content.aspx?id=47511