Did you know that more than 20% of hospital admissions are due to adverse drug reactions? Just because dentists prescribe less than 10% of all available drugs, your patients may be taking others from the 90% with which you are not familiar. Since polypharmacy is the norm, especially in the over 65 year old population, this course should be considered essential to every practice setting today. 

Do you have patients who are already on one prescription medication before they come to your office? How about four prescription medications? Did you know that the likelihood of a drug interaction in a patient on five medications is greater than 50%?  What if you are the prescriber who writes that fifth prescription? With so many new medications, herbal products, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements available on the market, how can you be confident that the prescription you write is compatible with what your patient is currently taking?  

This interactive program looks at some of the more common drugs and drug interactions and their management with a particular focus on the dental realm. Case studies will augment the delivery of key points and a problem-based learning approach is encouraged so that each participant’s questions are addressed.  The program will conclude with a discussion of references and demonstration of some available databases. After all, when an adverse drug reaction occurs due to a drug interaction, who is more at risk: you or your patient?

• Describe the potential for drug-drug interactions and articulate strategies to avoid or manage them.
• Understand the principles of drug metabolism including liver enzyme induction and inhibition.
• Discuss the role of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in the liver with respect to drug metabolism
• Describe at least three disease states attributable for induced metabolism and three disease states attributable for inhibited metabolism.
• Recognize reputable databases and references and how to utilize these tools to evaluate drug therapies and interactions.

The speaker declares that neither he nor any member of his family has a financial arrangement or affiliation with any corporate offering financial support of grant monies for this CE program. Although commercially available products may be discussed, no financial arrangements exist between those companies and the speaker.