<?xml version="1.0"?>
<Articles JournalTitle="Journal of Pharmaceutical Care">
  <Article>
    <Journal>
      <PublisherName>Tehran University of Medical Sciences</PublisherName>
      <JournalTitle>Journal of Pharmaceutical Care</JournalTitle>
      <Issn>2322-4630</Issn>
      <Volume>10</Volume>
      <Issue>2</Issue>
      <PubDate PubStatus="epublish">
        <Year>2022</Year>
        <Month>06</Month>
        <Day>28</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </Journal>
    <title locale="en_US">High Prevalence of Potential Drug-Drug Interactions Among Patients Treated with Off-label Therapies for COVID-19</title>
    <FirstPage>44</FirstPage>
    <LastPage>47</LastPage>
    <Language>EN</Language>
    <AuthorList>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Allan</FirstName>
        <LastName>Ramos-Esquivel</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Costa Rica, Costa Rica.</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Cristina</FirstName>
        <LastName>Fern&#xE1;ndez</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Pharmacy Department, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, Costa Rica.</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Luis</FirstName>
        <LastName>Garro-Zamora</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Pharmacy Department, Hospital M&#xE9;xico, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, Costa Rica.</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>Ana</FirstName>
        <LastName>Chaves</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Pharmacy Department, Hospital Rafael &#xC1;ngel Calder&#xF3;n Guardia, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, Costa Rica.</affiliation>
      </Author>
      <Author>
        <FirstName>&#xC1;lvaro</FirstName>
        <LastName>V&#xED;quez-Jaikel</LastName>
        <affiliation locale="en_US">Pharmacy Department, Hospital San Juan de Dios, Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social, Costa Rica.</affiliation>
      </Author>
    </AuthorList>
    <History>
      <PubDate PubStatus="received">
        <Year>2022</Year>
        <Month>01</Month>
        <Day>16</Day>
      </PubDate>
      <PubDate PubStatus="accepted">
        <Year>2022</Year>
        <Month>04</Month>
        <Day>11</Day>
      </PubDate>
    </History>
    <abstract locale="en_US">Background: During the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, severe patients were treated with the off-label drugs hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of potential drug-drug interactions (DDIs) between hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir and concomitant medications used by hospitalized patients treated for COVID-19 in Costa Rica.Methods: We included all patients that received lopinavir/ritonavir or hydroxychloroquine as treatment for COVID-19. Clinical pharmacists reviewed the prescription profile of each patient and determined the probability and severity of any DDI through two databases (The Lexi-Interact program) and the Micromedex online interaction checker. A logistic regression model was used to identify variables associated with the occurrence of potential DDIs.Results: We identified a total of 108 potential DDIs in 34 inpatients (n=34). At least one of these DDIs occurred in 27 patients (79.4%; 95% CI: 65.8-92.9%). A total of 70 DDIs (64.8%) were classified as clinically relevant (grade D or X) by the clinical pharmacists. Only the number of concomitant drugs was associated with the occurrence of a probable DDI. The most common drugs associated with any DDI were fentanyl (n=12, 11.1%), midazolam (n=11, 10.2%), and insulin (n=10, 10.2%).Conclusion: A large proportion of patients treated with hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir for severe COVID-19 were at risk for clinical meaningful DDIs.</abstract>
    <web_url>https://jpc.tums.ac.ir/index.php/jpc/article/view/476</web_url>
  </Article>
</Articles>
