Herb-drug interactions and confounding in clinical trials.
Herb-drug interactions are being recognized for their potential to reduce the efficacy of, or cause additive side effects with, conventional medications. Herb use, particularly when undisclosed to investigators, may be a potential unforeseen confounding variable in clinical trials. The use of herbal products by patients enrolled in clinical trials should be determined and considered as a confounding variable.
Piscitelli
Stephen C
SC
Clinical Center Pharmacy Department, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 Room 1N257, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
Burstein
Aaron H
AH