Drug Interactions—Friend or Foe?

An explosion of knowledge about interactions of drugs with other drugs and with foods threatensto inundate clinicians. This review provides a better understanding of the cytochrome P450 systemwith a focus on those enzymes most involved in drug metabolism. Emphasis is placed on antidepressantmedications, how they are metabolized by the P450 system, and how they alter the metabolism ofother drugs. The role of antidepressants in precipitating the serotonin syndrome is also discussed.