Patient Assessment and Drug Interactions

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?

Participants will learn:

• The potential for drug-drug interactions and articulate strategies to avoid or manage them.
• To recognize reputable databases and references and how to utilize these tools to evaluate drug therapies and herbal interactions.
• The principles of drug metabolism including liver enzyme induction and inhibition.
• The role of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in the liver with respect to drug metabolism

Presenters:

Dr. Mark Donaldson BSP, ACPR, PHARMD, FASHP, FACHE

More courses with Dr. Mark Donaldson

Mark Donaldson received his baccalaureate degree from the University of British Columbia and his Doctorate in Clinical Pharmacy from the University of Washington. He has practiced as a clinical pharmacy specialist, clinical coordinator and director of pharmacy services at many healthcare organizations in both Canada and the United States.  He is currently Associate Principal of Clinical Pharmacy for Vizient’s Advisory Solutions, and lives in Whitefish, Montana. Dr. Donaldson is a Clinical Professor at the University of Montana, Clinical Associate Professor at the Oregon Health & Sciences University, and affiliate faculty in Dentistry at UBC. He has lectured internationally to both dental and medical practitioners focusing on dental pharmacology and therapeutics and is a leader in the field.

Dr. Donaldson has published numerous peer-reviewed works and textbook chapters. He serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of the American Dental Association and is the 2016 recipient of the Academy of General Dentistry’s Dr. Thaddeus Weclew Award. In 2019 he was conferred by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) with the “Special Friend of Canadian Dentistry Award.” This award is given to an individual outside of the dental profession in appreciation for exemplary support or service to the profession as a whole. He can be reached via email at:  drmarkdonaldson@gmail.com