[Use of natural remedies is seldom documented in medical records. There is a risk of overlooked interactions and adverse effects, as a point prevalence study shows].
Use of herbal medicines can result in adverse effects and in interactions with other pharmacological therapies. The hypothesis of the present study was that health professionals overlook use of herbal drugs. Thus, the aims were (i) to examine to what extent hospitalized patient's use of herbal drugs is documented in the files and (ii) to investigate the patients' attitudes concerning effects and adverse effects of herbal drugs in comparison with regular prescription drugs. Eight out of 58 included hospitalized patients in Sahlgrenska University Hospital used herbal drugs regularly before admission, six of which used regular prescribed drugs simultaneously and one of which had the use of herbal drugs documented in the files. The patients considered regular prescription drugs to be more effective and more prone to adverse effects than herbal drugs. In conclusion, health professionals often overlook patients' use of herbal drugs.
Wallerstedt
Susanna M
SM
Sahlgrenska akademin, Göteborg universitet. susanna.wallerstedt@pharm.gu.se
Skrtic
Stanko
S
D001294:Attitude to Health; D004282:Documentation; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent; D008499:Medical Records; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D028321:Plant Preparations