Safety of homeopathic injectables for subcutaneous administration: a documentation of the experience of prescribing practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to chart the experiences of homeopathic injectables prescribing practitioners with regard to safety issues and the extent in which these practitioners would feel restricted in case subcutaneously administered homeopathics were banned.


METHODS
This was a survey among practitioners who prescribe homeopathic injectables in 12 European countries.


METHODS
Data were gathered from 1693 doctors experienced in the use of homeopathic injectables for subcutaneous use. The data are based on experience with an estimated 36 million patient contacts.


RESULTS
Of the 1693 doctors 1594 (94.2%) choose subcutaneous administration because of its therapeutic effect. 96.4% of the doctors never, very rarely, or rarely, observed any adverse reactions because of the subcutaneous form of application. The reported adverse reactions were mostly harmless (local redness, hematoma, local pain). Of the doctors, 98.1% never, very rarely, or rarely observed any adverse reactions caused by the specific homeopathic medicinal product used. In addition, 99.5% of the doctors desire homeopathic injectables for subcutaneous use to stay on the market and 89% would be severely or very severely limited in their profession if homeopathic injectables were not available.


CONCLUSIONS
The study suggests that homeopathic injectables have a very low risk profile. A very small number of severe adverse reactions (anaphylactic reaction, feverish symptoms, aversion/anxiety against injections, and asthma) have been reported with products with a concentration higher than 1:10,000.
Baars
Erik W
EW
Louis Bolk Instituut, Department of Healthcare and Nutrition, Driebergen, The Netherlands. e.baars@louisbolk.nl
Adriaansen-Tennekes
Ruth
R
Eikmans
Karin J L
KJ
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006705:Homeopathy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008419:Materia Medica / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008419:Materia Medica