Studies on the safe administration of drugs: evaluation and prevention of drug interactions

Whiting, Brian (1976) Studies on the safe administration of drugs: evaluation and prevention of drug interactions. MD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

It is virtually impossible for a practising doctor to sustain the mass of detailed information which is now available on drug interactions. To overcome this problem, a simple, portable drug interaction warning system, the Drug Disc, has been developed. It consists of a reversible unit of two concentric superimposed discs which pivot freely about their common centre. Interactions are indicated by symbols which appear in a window cut into the upper disc when individual drugs or drug categories shown on the two discs are brought into alignment. The information presented embraces the majority of drug interactions which have a bearing on therapeutics and different symbols are used to grade interactions according to their degree of clinical significance. This grading was based on the nature and severity of the interaction, the adequacy of published information, and opinions expressed by the developers of the Disc, including a Working Party established by the Scottish Home and Health Department, and 450 doctors and pharmacists who participated in a trial of the Disc in the United Kingdom. This survey of attitudes about the warning system indicated that the majority of participants found the information provided to be both clinically useful and informative. Subsequent consumer research in other countries has confirmed that the system would be of value both as a practical aid in prescribing and in teaching. The degree of interest and enthusiasm stimulated by the Drug Disc showed that drug interactions are an aspect of modem medicine that cannot be ignored, and suggested that this kind of aid to prescribing was warranted* It is planned to effect a free distribution of the Disc to Health Service Doctors in the United Kingdom and the Excerpta Medica Foundation has accepted responsibility for its worldwide distribution. Further experience with drug combinations and the introduction of new drugs will largely dictate much of the relevance of drug interactions in the future. The Drug Disc will be subjected to constant review and appropriate changes made whenever necessary. It is hoped that a system of this kind will foster a more critical approach to multiple drug therapy and help to reduce many of the hazards implicit in drug combination.

Publications:

Skellem, G.G., Meier, J. and Whiting, B. (1976) The application of
high-pressure liquid chromatography to the determination of
some 1,4 benzodiazepines and their metabolites in plasma.
II Farmaco

Sumner, D.J., Russell, A.J. and Whiting, B. (1975) Digoxin kinetics :
Multicompartmental analysis and its clinical implications.
British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
.
Wallace, S. and Whiting, B. (1974) Some clinical implications of the
protein binding of digoxin. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology.
1, 325-328.

Wallace, S., Whiting, B. and Runcie, J. (1976) Factors affecting drug
binding in plasma of elderly patients. British Journal of Clinical
Pharmacology

Whiting, B., Rodger, J.C. and Sumner, D.J. (1972) New formulation of
digoxin. Lancet. 2, 922.

Whiting, B., Goldberg, A. and Waldie, P.S. (1973) Hie Drug Disc ;
Warning system for drug interactions. Lancet. 1, 1037-1038.

Whiting, B., Goldberg, A. and Waldie, P.S. (1974) Hie Drug Disc.
A warning system for drug interactions. Drug Therapy. Feb. 1974>
79-82.

• Item Type: Thesis (MD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: R Medicine > RS Pharmacy and materia medica
• Colleges/Schools: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Goldberg, Prof. A.
• Date of Award: 1976
• Depositing User: Mrs Marie Cairney
• Unique ID: glathesis:1976-38954
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 28 Nov 2018 13:25
• Last Modified: 28 Nov 2018 13:41
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/38954

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