Potential Drug Interactions in Covid-19 Patients

at Santa Elisabeth General Hospital Purwokerto

Wiwi Astuti, Heny Ekowati, Nialiana Endah Endriastuti

Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jenderal Sudirman University

Jl. Dr. Suparno, Karangwangkal, Purwokerto 53123, Indonesia

Corresponding author: Wiwi Astuti, Phone: +62-882-32292558, e-mail: wiwi.astuti@mhs.unsoed.ac.id

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a disease caused by a new coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). There is no specific drug to treat COVID-19 patients. Drug therapy for COVID-19 is based on symptomatic condition. This study aimed to identify potential drug interactions in COVID-19 patients at the Santa Elisabeth General Hospital Purwokerto.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used retrospective data of medical records of COVID-19 patients from November 2020 to December 2020. The population in this study were all COVID-19 patients who received two or more drugs therapy simultaneously and hospitalized at the Santa Elisabeth General Hospital Purwokerto. The data were analyzed descriptively. Drug interactions were analyzed using Drug Interaction Facts, Stockley, and online databases such as drugs.com, Medscape, and drug bank.

Results: There were minor, moderate, and major drug interactions. The most frequent drug interactions were minor and moderate drug interactions. In addition, there are several major drug interactions such as levofloxacin and lantus or levofloxacin and glimepiride interactions.

Conclusion: There were major drug interactions such as levofloxacin and lantus or levofloxacin and glimepiride interactions. It is necessary to closely monitor the effects.

Keywords: COVID-19, drug interactions, Elisabeth hospital