Take Care of Risky Drug Combos

Although OTC drugs and supplements may add health benefits to those who take them, yet combining them with prescription drugs may either reinforce the desired effect to unwanted levels, or produce side effects that could have been minimal in the original drug. A new study reveals some sobering ststistics.

At least 2 million older Americans are taking a combination of drugs or supplements that can be a risky mix — from blood thinners and cholesterol pills to aspirin and ginkgo capsules — a new study warns.

Experts say the take-home advice is to ask about any side effects of prescription drugs, and tell your doctor before taking other medicines.

Examples of harmful combinations include:
. Warfarin, a potent prescription clot-fighting drug, was often taken with aspirin. Both increase the risk of bleeding, so the odds are even higher when both drugs are taken. The researchers said these risks also occur when warfarin is taken with garlic pills, which some studies have suggested can benefit the heart and help prevent blood clots.
Signs of bleeding problems include bruising easily, hard-to-stop bleeding from the gums or from cuts and blood in the urine.

Other commonly used and risky combinations included:

•Aspirin taken with over-the-counter ginkgo supplements, increasing chances for excess bleeding.
•Lisinopril, a blood pressure drug, taken with potassium, which combined can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Potassium is often prescribed to restore low levels of this important mineral caused by certain blood pressure drugs.
•Prescription cholesterol drugs called statins taken with over-the-counter niacin, a type of vitamin B that also lowers cholesterol. This combination increases risks for muscle damage.

The good news is that there is a new Web site, http://www.consumermedsafety.org that will allow consumers to enter names of their medications to check for any potentially dangerous interactions.


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Millions of seniors use risky drug combos - Health care- msnbc.com