Incompatibility

Incompatibility is a term used in medicine and pharmacy to describe a situation where two substances cannot be mixed without altering the overall function or effect. This can occur between drugs, a drug and a disease, or a drug and a patient's genetic makeup.

Types of Incompatibility

There are three main types of incompatibility in medicine and pharmacy:

1. Chemical Incompatibility: This occurs when two or more drugs react chemically to produce a new substance that may be harmful or ineffective. This can occur in solutions, suspensions, or even within the body if two incompatible drugs are taken together.
2. Physical Incompatibility: This refers to the physical changes that occur when two substances are mixed. This can include changes in color, precipitation, or gas formation. Physical incompatibility can affect the stability, efficacy, and safety of the drug.
3. Therapeutic Incompatibility: This occurs when the combined effect of two drugs is less than the effect of each drug given separately. This can occur due to antagonistic effects, where one drug counteracts the effect of another, or due to changes in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, or excretion of the drugs.

Prevention of Incompatibility

Preventing incompatibility involves careful consideration of the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of each drug, as well as the patient's individual characteristics. This can include:

• Checking for known incompatibilities before prescribing or administering drugs.
• Using separate infusion lines for incompatible drugs.
• Monitoring patients closely for signs of incompatibility.

See Also

• Drug Interaction
• Adverse Drug Reaction
• Pharmacovigilance

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