Neurologic drug-psychotropic drug update.

It is essential that both the neurologist and the psychiatrist be aware of the neurology drug-psychotropic drug interactions because neurologists prescribe many psychotropic medications and psychiatric consultants often recommend the use of psychotropic drugs for neurology patients. Six methods of examining drug-drug interactions were employed: 1) PubMed (MEDLINE); 2) Hanston's Drug Interaction Analysis and Management Text (July 2001 quarterly updated version); 3)Drug Interactions Facts (quarterly updated version through July 2001); 4) Micromedex Drug-dex; 5) American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information; 6) Food and Drug Administration (MedWatch) Dear Doctor Letters and new labeling. Over eighty important interactions of significance level 1 (major), or significance level 2 (minor) were found. Furthermore, over one-third of the neurologist's most commonly administered medications were those also employed by the psychiatrist, but not necessarily for the same reason, e.g., carbamazepine, for seizure control (neurologist) or mood stabilization (psychiatrist).