title: Risk of interactions between complementary and alternative medicine and medication for comorbidities in patients with melanoma.
abstract: Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is used widely among cancer patients. Beside the risk of interaction with cancer therapies, interactions with treatment for comorbidities are an underestimated problem. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence of interactions between CAM and drugs for comorbidities from a large CAM usage survey on melanoma patients and to classify herb-drug interactions with regard to their potential to harm. Consecutive melanoma outpatients of seven skin cancer centers were asked to complete a standardized CAM questionnaire including questions to their CAM use and their taken medication for comorbidities and cancer. Each combination of conventional drugs and complementary substances was evaluated for their potential of interaction. 1089 questionnaires were eligible for evaluation. From these, 61.6% of patients reported taking drugs regularly from which 34.4% used biological-based CAM methods. Risk evaluation for interaction was possible for 180 CAM users who listed the names or substances they took for comorbidities. From those patients, we found 37.2% at risk of interaction of their co-consumption of conventional and complementary drugs. Almost all patients using Chinese herbs were at risk (88.6%). With a high rate of CAM usage at risk of interactions between CAM drugs and drugs taken for comorbidities, implementation of a regular assessment of CAM usage and drugs for comorbidities is mandatory in cancer care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Loquai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dechent
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Dresden, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Marlene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garzarolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Wald Klinikum Gera, Str. des Friedens 122, 07548, Gera, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kaatz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kaehler
authors.affiliation: Practice of Dermatology, Bonner Str. 207, 50968, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kurschat
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Klinikum Dortmund gGmbH, Beurhausstraße 40, 44137, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meiss
authors.affiliation: Practice of Dermatology, Sachsenwerkstr. 71, 01257, Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Klinikum Dortmund gGmbH, Beurhausstraße 40, 44137, Dortmund, Germany.
authors.forename: Dorothee
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nashan
authors.affiliation: Department of Radio-Oncology, St. Franziskus Hospital Bielefeld, Kiskerstraße 26, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Micke
authors.affiliation: Department of Radio-Oncology, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Muecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinic Offenburg, Ebertplatz 12, 77654, Offenburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Muenstedt
authors.affiliation: Clinic Herzoghoehe Bayreuth, Kulmbacherstraße 103, 95445, Bayreuth, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stoll
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biometrie, Epidemiology and Informatics, University Medical Center Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Schmidtmann
authors.affiliation: Dr. Senckenberg Chronomedical Institute, J.W. Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany. huebner@med.uni-frankfurt.de.
authors.forename: Jutta
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huebner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005571:Formularies, Homeopathic as Topic; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D014815:Vitamins
keywords: Cancer; Comorbidities; Complementary and alternative medicine; Interactions; Melanoma