Drug interaction checking
Automatically screen for dangerous medication combinations using FDA data.
How interaction checking works
Every time you add or change a medication, Senior Support Resources checks it against all other medications in the list. It uses data from the FDA (OpenFDA) and the National Library of Medicine (RxNorm), the same databases pharmacists and doctors reference. The check happens automatically and instantly. You do not need to do anything special to trigger it. The system also runs periodic checks across the full medication list to catch any combinations that may have been missed.
Understanding interaction alerts
Interactions are classified by severity. Major interactions are potentially life-threatening and require immediate attention from the prescriber. Moderate interactions may require monitoring, dosage adjustment, or careful timing of doses. Minor interactions are usually not clinically significant but are worth being aware of. Each alert includes a plain-language explanation of the risk, what could happen, and what to discuss with the healthcare provider. The alert also identifies which specific medications are involved.
What to do when an interaction is flagged
Do not stop any medication on your own without consulting the doctor. Many interactions are manageable with monitoring, timing adjustments, or dosage changes. Contact the prescribing physician or pharmacist to discuss the flagged interaction. When you call, you can reference the specific interaction details from the app. In some cases, the doctor may have already considered the interaction and determined that the benefit outweighs the risk. The app provides the information to facilitate that conversation.
Limitations to be aware of
The interaction checker covers most common drug-drug interactions but may not catch every possible combination. It does not account for individual health factors such as kidney function or body weight, dosage-dependent interactions that only occur at certain doses, drug-food interactions (like grapefruit with statins), or drug-condition interactions (like certain medications with kidney disease). Always use it as one valuable tool among many, not as a replacement for a pharmacist reviewing the full medication list.
Tips
Include all supplements and over-the-counter medications in your list for the most thorough interaction checking. When starting a new medication, check interactions before filling the prescription if possible. Keep a record of any interactions your doctor has reviewed and accepted. Ask your pharmacist to do a comprehensive medication review at least annually, and share the Senior Support Resources medication list with them.