Interactions between herbal medicines and conventional drug therapy in a memory clinic population.
Published: 2004
Language: eng
Number of pages: 135
Description: Objective. To explore the perceptions around safety of herbal medicines and identify preventable adverse drug events (ADEs) as a result of herb drug interactions (HDI) in patients suffering from dementia.Results. Around 52% were current users of herbal medicines, of whom 30.2% were at risk for at least one potential herb drug interaction. Herbal users reported greater beliefs in the safety of herbal medicines than the non-herbal users (P &lt; 0.005). The over all incidence of ADEs was 10% with more ADE in non-herbal users (20 ADEs, n = 15 versus 11 ADEs, n = 10; p &lt; 0.009). Furthermore herbal users reported 3 probable and significant ADE as a result of HDI.Methods. We interviewed 620 memory clinic patients for perceptions around safety of herbal medicines and identify potential HDI. A 6-month follow-up interview was conducted on 240 patients to identify ADEs and HDI.Conclusion. Our findings indicate while herbal medicines are relatively safe, HDI occur.
Notes: Adviser:  Krista Lanctot.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--University of Toronto, 2004.

Electronic version licensed for access by U. of T. users.

Source: Masters Abstracts International, Volume: 43-03, page: 0832.

MICR copy on microfiche (2 microfiches).