title: Systematic review on the compatibility of Shuanghuanglian injection combined with western medical injections.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Shuanghuanglian injection (SHLI) is a typical Chinese herbal injection which has been used for more than 20 years. This study aims to investigate the compatibility of SHLI with western intravenous agents.
  
  
  METHODS
  An extensive literature search was executed to identify all experimental tests and clinical reports on the topics. Data on the types of infusion solutions and western medical injections, usage and dosage, outcome measures for physical and chemical properties, and changes of drug effect were searched for. The included data was analyzed and described by the category of included western drugs. Compatibility was tested through integrating the evaluations of physical properties, chemical composition, drug metabolism, and safety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty articles (38 experimental tests and 22 clinical reports) were included after screening. Fifty-three western medical injections were identified from all the included articles. Most of the research was about the compatibility of SHLI with different types of antibiotics, including β-lactam, aminoglycoside, and quinolone etc. Thirty-one western medical injections were not recommended to be combined with SHLI. The quality of the experimental test design was low because of unbalanced evaluation indicators: more attention to physical changes than drug metabolism, effect, and safety.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A broad incompatibility existed in the combination of SHLI with western medical injections. Some results were still uncertain, but the combinations should still be avoided until researched clearly. The compatibility and interaction of Chinese herbal injections and western medicines is still a weak area. The pharmaceutical sector should strengthen post-market research to update evidence and improve its distribution.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, China.
authors.forename: Junhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hongcai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.forename: Wenke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Hongjuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Boli
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D004338:Drug Combinations; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations