title: Evaluation of herbal product use and possible herb-drug interactions in Turkish elderly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and documentation of the use of herbal remedies by individuals aged ≥65 years and to evaluate possible adverse reactions and herb-drug interactions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 1418 participants (age range 65-95 years) via interview-based questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of herbal use among older adults was 30% (n = 426); 64% (n = 274) used more than one prescription medication, and polyherbacy was reported by 47.5% (n = 202) of participants. Some participants used herbal products that are known to interfere with conventional drugs used to treat chronic diseases, such as cardiac glycosides, diuretics, anticoagulants, antidiabetics, anticonvulsants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To ensure good patient care, it is important that healthcare professionals are aware of possible health complications associated with the concomitant use of herbs and medications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: fpt@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Fatma Pinar
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Turkmenoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ykutsal@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Yesim Gokce
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kutsal
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: anilbarak@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Anil Barak
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Dolgun
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ydiker@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Yagmur
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Diker
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: tbaydar@hacettepe.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Terken
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baydar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Adverse drug reactions; Elderly; Herbal products; Herb–drug interactions