Pharmacists Review Medications to Improve Wound Healing

Although patients may view cuts, ulcers, or surgical wounds as straightforward problems requiring only topical products, the reality is far more complex. A growing body of evidence shows that systemic factors—especially medications and chronic conditions—can quietly derail the body’s ability to heal.

Corticosteroids such as prednisone and methylprednisolone, commonly used for asthma, autoimmune disease, and severe inflammation, are a prime example. They can be indispensable for controlling disease, yet their immunosuppressive effects may slow tissue repair when used long term. The same is true of other immunosuppressive therapies, from tacrolimus to biologic agents like adalimumab, prescribed for conditions ranging from organ transplants to rheumatoid arthritis. Chemotherapy agents, by targeting rapidly dividing cells, can similarly compromise the skin’s ability to regenerate.

Anticoagulants—including warfarin, apixaban, and clopidogrel—present another layer of complexity. These drugs are lifesaving in preventing clots and strokes, but they increase bleeding and bruising risks, complicating decisions about dressings, debridement, and when to refer patients for higher-level care.

Looming over all of this is poorly controlled diabetes, one of the most significant contributors to delayed wound healing. Chronically elevated blood glucose damages blood vessels and impairs circulation, starving tissues of the oxygen and nutrients they need to repair.

In this interview, Nadia Maqbool Ahmad, PharmD, District Engagement Lead Pharmacist at Walgreens, discusses how a careful medication review, a strong grasp of chronic disease, and proactive counseling can transform a routine pharmacy encounter into a crucial intervention for better healing and safer outcomes.

READ MORE: Wound Care Resource Center

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