If you went to dental college, you could not have realized how a lot you’d must find out about frequent medication sufferers take and their interactions with dental therapy. Because the years go by and extra drugs are being developed, taking full medical histories to be taught precisely what medication your sufferers are utilizing turns into ever extra important earlier than you embark on therapy.
A have a look at the statistics
Greater than 20,000 medication have been authorised for advertising and marketing by the FDA.1 In 2021, greater than half of US adults had been routinely taking prescription drugs.2 The expansion of the prescription drug market is ever-increasing. Prescription drug expenditures reached $335 billion in 2018, and that quantity is projected to hit $875 billion by 2026.3 Yearly, greater than 4 billion prescriptions are disbursed.4 And COVID-19 boosted prescription drug use even additional.4
The drugs your sufferers are taking for varied present situations could also be utterly applicable, however whenever you add different medication used throughout dental therapy into the combination (like anesthetics, analgesics, and anxiolytics), the potential for antagonistic drug interactions turns into actual.
Listed here are hyperlinks to our greatest content material about among the frequent medication your sufferers could also be taking, in addition to issues to make earlier than you administer therapy. Dr. Pamela Maragliano-Muniz, chief editor of Dental Economics, and pharmacist Tom Viola share their experience on these prescribed drugs.
Drug interactions
Being on the alert for the way medication work together with different medication is a crucial a part of preserving sufferers protected. However meals and dietary supplements can intrude with some drugs as properly.
Steroids
What do you often prescribe for sufferers who’ve TMJ ache or extreme toothaches? Are steroids your go-to? What are the most effective decisions for dental irritation?
The great and unhealthy of steroids
Gabapentin
Gabapentin is a broadly used anticonvulsant and nerve ache remedy that has attracted some controversy.
Why would a dentist prescribe gabapentin anyway?
Epinephrine
There are some stunning methods epinephrine can profit dental sufferers. Right here’s a have a look at the professionals and cons and why medical critiques of epi’s use in dentistry are sometimes short-sighted.
A love-hate relationship with epinephrine
Counterfeit medication
Your sufferers may very well be taking counterfeit medication that you simply aren’t conscious of—all of which may have an effect on your dental therapy. The secret’s to ask the fitting questions.
What to find out about fake Xanax and different counterfeit medication
Sulfa allergic reactions
Sulfa, sulfite, and sulfur might sound alike, however the similarity ends there. When you will have sufferers with allergic reactions to sulfa medication and sulfites who can’t have articaine as an area anesthetic, take into account these items.
Sulfa allergic reactions, sulfite allergic reactions, and native anesthetics
Ozempic
As the share of People battling weight problems will increase, so has the demand for weight-loss medication like Ozempic. However there are dental implications that you must know.
References
- FDA at a look. U.S. Meals & Drug Administration. January 2024. Accessed April 5, 2024. https://www.fda.gov/media/175664/obtain
- Fleck A. Greater than half of People take prescribed meds every day. Statista. November 6, 2023. Accessed April 5, 2024. https://www.statista.com/chart/31183/us-respondents-who-are-taking-prescribed-medicine/
- People take prescriptions a big portion of their lives. U.S. Pharmacist. October 25, 2023. Accessed April 5, 2024. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/americans-take-prescriptions-a-large-portion-of-their-lives
- Prescription drug statistics 2024. The Checkup by SingleCare. Up to date November 29, 2023. Accessed April 5, 2024. https://www.singlecare.com/weblog/information/prescription-drug-statistics
