During a drug utilization review, what is evaluated regarding patient medication history?

During a drug utilization review, one of the primary focuses is on evaluating potential drug interactions. This assessment is critical for ensuring patient safety, as it helps to identify any harmful reactions that may occur when different medications are taken together. Drug interactions can lead to reduced effectiveness of a medication, increased side effects, or other adverse effects that might endanger a patient's health.

Understanding the possible interactions allows pharmacists and healthcare providers to make informed decisions about medication therapy, ensuring that the prescribed drugs work effectively together and minimizing risks to the patient. This evaluation is an essential responsibility in the pharmacy practice, contributing directly to patient care and the optimization of therapeutic outcomes.

While adherence to medications, cost, and insurance coverage are important aspects of patient management, they are secondary to the immediate safety concerns that arise from drug interactions. By prioritizing the identification and management of potential drug interactions, pharmacists can prevent complications and enhance the overall safety of medication regimens for patients.