Health news
ANSM
· Bon usage du médicament· 5/15/2026

Drug interactions: what to check before combining two treatments

France's drug agency reminds patients and clinicians to systematically check interactions between medicines, supplements and food, especially in polymedicated patients.

Why it matters

Drug-drug interactions are a leading preventable cause of serious adverse events. A significant share of medication-related hospitalisations could be avoided through systematic interaction checks at prescription and dispensing.

Highest-risk combinations

  • Oral anticoagulants (VKAs, DOACs) with NSAIDs, certain antibiotics (macrolides), azole antifungals.
  • SSRI antidepressants with triptans or tramadol (serotonin syndrome risk).
  • Statins with some antibiotics or grapefruit juice (rhabdomyolysis risk).
  • Paracetamol at maximum dose in patients on warfarin (INR potentiation).

Recommended habits

  1. Keep a complete and up-to-date list of every treatment, including OTC, herbal and supplements.
  2. Ask your pharmacist for an interaction check with every new prescription.
  3. Report any unusual effect via the official pharmacovigilance portal.

How CureIQ can help

You can ask CureIQ for free: “Are my medications compatible with each other?” — the assistant cross-checks your treatments against official databases (ANSM, HAS, WHO) and returns a clear, sourced answer.

Educational summary generated by CureIQ from an official source. Always consult a healthcare professional.