A study of the possible drug-drug interactions involving oral antidiabetic drugs in patients with type ii diabetes

Incidence of diabetes is increasing due to increase in the prevalence of risk factors of this disease. Diabetes is also a risk factor for other diseases especially cardiovascular diseases. Increase in co-morbidities results in polypharmacy which in turn increases possibility of drug interactions. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of possible drug interactions involving oral hypoglycaemic agents in Type II diabetes mellitus patients. Methods and Findings: This is a prospective, observational study, conducted for a period of 6 months, from September 2017 to February 2018. Type II diabetes mellitus patients with prescription of one or more oral hypoglycaemic drugs were included in the study. The demographics, and drug therapy related details of patients were recorded in the specially designed patient profile form. The drug interactions were assessed using Micromedex 2.0, Medscape and www.drugs.com. Results: A total of 136 interactions were reported in 63 patients. We detected 63 possible moderate interactions. Between oral hypoglycaemic agents. Interaction between Metformin and Salbutamol was most commonly seen interaction. Metformin and Glimepiride were the oral hypoglycaemic agents most commonly involved in drug interactions. Conclusion: Glimepiride and metformin were most commonly involved oral hypoglycaemic agents involved in drug interactions. Impairment of blood glucose control, increase in the risk of lactic acidosis, increase in the prevalence of hypoglycaemia, masking the effects of hypoglycaemia were the most common expected complications of these interactions. Therefore constant monitoring of the above symptoms is required while prescribing the mentioned combinations.