“We need to take the time to re-educate health care professionals and counsel patients,” said pharmacists Pete Kreckel, RPh, who is involved in the “Flip the Pharmacy” program designed to prevent adverse drug events and interactions.

One such example includes a patient who “had been taking escitalopram 20 mg daily, and started taking NyQuil for cough and cold symptoms. She had full-blown seizures as a result of serotonin syndrome, which occurred from the dextromethorphan/SSRI combination. The patient was life-flighted to the hospital and made a full recovery.”

Pharmacists can remind prescribers of the importance to speak with patients about taking antidepressants with cough and cold medications, especially during cough and cold season.

Read the full article at https://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/how-community-pharmacists-can-provide-excellent-patient-care-with-support