Translate into English using the vocabulary of the Unit.

К побочным действиям лекарственных средств относится любая реакция на лекарственные средства, вредная и нежелательная для организма, возникающая при его назначении для лечения, диагностики и профилактики заболеваний.

Считают, что побочные реакции развиваются у 4-29% больных, применяющих различные лекарственные препараты. Частота возникновения (incidence) побочных реакций зависит от индивидуальных особенностей, пола, возраста больного, тяжести основного и сопутствующего (concomitant) заболевания, фармакодинамики и фармакокинетики, дозы, длительности применения, путей введения лекарственных средств, лекарственного взаимодействия.

Чаще всего побочные эффекты проявляются нарушением функций желудочно-кишечного тракта, изменениями кожи, содержания ионов калия в плазме крови, нарушениями свёртываемости крови, аллергическими реакциями, а также психическими нарушениями.

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GRAMMAR IN USE

Use the verbs in the Passive Voice.

1. The roads (cover) with the snow.

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1. Chocolate (make) from cocoa.

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1. The Pyramids (build) in Egypt.

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1. This coat (buy) four years ago.

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1. The stadium (open) next month.

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1. Your parents (invite) to a meeting.

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1. Where is your car? – It (mend) at the moment.

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1. The books already (pack).

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1. The castle can (see) from a long distance.

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1. The guests must (meet) at noon.

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Change the sentences according to the model.

E.g.: Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet”.– “Romeo and Juliet” was written by

Shakespeare.

1. Popov invented radio in Russia.

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1. Every four years people elect a new president in the USA.

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1. The police caught a bank robber last night.

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1. Sorry, we don’t allow dogs in our safari park.

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1. The postman will leave my letter by the door.

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1. My mum has made a delicious cherry pie for dinner.

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1. George didn’t repair my clock.

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1. Wait a little, my neighbor is telling an interesting story.

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1. My son can write some more articles about football.

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1. You must clean your bedroom tonight.

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Give the negative form of the verbs.

1. Ann was bitten by a homeless dog.

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1. The zoo is being reconstructed at the moment.

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1. The luggage must be checked at the customs.

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1. Souvenirs are sold everywhere.

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1. The job will be finished at 3 o’clock.

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Answer the following questions in full.

1. Are the Olympic Games held every 10 years?

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1. Is bread made from flour or potatoes?

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1. Was the Eifel Tower built in Moscow?

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1. Will the final exams be taken in summer or in winter?

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1. When is Christmas celebrated in Europe?

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WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

allergic (adj)
alter (v)
beforehand (adv)
breast milk
compensate (v)
consider (v)
constipation (n)
follow-up visit		последующее посещение
food dye		пищевой краситель
harm (v)
in regard to		относительно, что касается
insomnia (n)
lessen (v)
medication (n)		препарат, лекарство
nausea (n)
nursing mother
pregnant woman
prescribe (v)
prior to (conj)		до, перед
rash (n)
relate (v)
remnant (n)
retard (v)
similarly (adv)
simultaneously (adv)
sulphite (n)
vary (v)

 

 

UNIT 36. DRUG INTERACTIONS

In this unit:

· speaking on drug interactions

· discussing the types of drug interactions

· Direct and Indirect Speech

READING

Read the text and answer the following questions.

1. When does an interaction occur?

2. What way are drug interactions classified?

3. What should be done by the doctor before prescribing new drugs?

 

DRUG INTERACTIONS

Drug interactions (DIs) represent an important source of medication errors. An interaction occurs when the effects of one drug are changed by the presence of another drug(s), food, drink or an environmental chemical. When a therapeutic combination could lead to an unexpected change in the condition of the patient, this would be described as an interaction of potential clinical significance.

There are various factors, contributing to the occurrence of DIs. This includes multiple pharmacological agents, multiple prescribers, use of non prescription drugs, drug abuse and patient noncompliance. Various patient variables are also implicated for drug interactions, i.e. age, genetic factors, disease states, renal function, hepatic function, alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, environmental factors, individual variations, etc. Although in a limited number of cases, prescribers use known interactions to enhance efficacy in the treatment of several important conditions, patients are exposed to unnecessary risks by the concomitant prescription of agents that have been shown to interact adversely. Many interactions are predictable, i.e. they can be avoided, if the prescriber keeps himself updated with the clinical pharmacology of the medicines involved.

DIs may be classified as drug-disease interaction, drug-herbal interactions, drug-drug interactions and the miscellaneous type.

Drug-disease interaction dispossesses considerable threats in patients suffering from various disease conditions involving renal and hepatic impairment and other conditions. Conditions that place patients at high risk for drug interactions are aplastic anemia, asthma, cardiac arrhythmia, intensive care patients, diabetes, epilepsy, and hypothyroidism. It is therefore always important to assess such conditions and adjust the required doses of the drugs.

In the past, very few case reports related to herb-drug interactions were reported. Recently, however, there have been several reported cases of possible herb-drug interactions. Herbal products can produce adverse drug reactions due to lack of standardization of content of natural products, variations in the strength of the active ingredient, contamination by fungal organisms, and adulteration with other potentially harmful natural products.

Drug-drug interactions include both prescription and over-the counter (OTC) medicines. For example taking the antibiotic Ciprofloxacin with antacids lowers Ciprofloxacin’s effectiveness. Similarly, there can be major drug interactions if Digoxin and Amiodarone are taken together. This combination can lead to increased Digoxin toxicity. In general, among the different types of DIs, the DDIs gain more importance because of their high incidence rate and the serious outcomes.

Miscellaneous drug interactions include interaction of drugs with dietary supplements, food and beverages, cigarette smoke, etc. Vitamin K is present in many vegetables. It promotes production of blood-clotting factors that may reduce the effectiveness of anticoagulants medicines like Warfarin. There have been also reports of reduction in the efficacy of Warfarin with intake of huge quantities of ice cream.

Drug interactions are often neglected and not considered seriously. DIs alone, can be a very important contributory factor for the occurrence of adverse drug reactions. As polypharmacy is one of the cardinal causes for DDIs, a thorough review of the patient condition and medications should be carried out before prescribing or while adding new drugs to their existing drug regimen. If a particular DI is unavoidable, the patient experiencing the DI should be monitored for the safety and efficacy of the drug provided.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE