Re: Herbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful Interactions

[Guest guest]

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home

This site gives interactions of drugs and a lot of herbals or supplements. There are many bad interactions and not all doctors or pharmacists are as aware of them as we might hope. God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: Nina

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Tuesday, April 19, 2005 4:00 PM

Subject: Herbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful Interactions

Herbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful InteractionsPatients with arthritis are more likely than the general population tobe using herbal remedies, which increases the risk of seriousinteractions with prescribed medications, results of a British studysuggest.Reuters Health Information 2005http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eoCY0FmdAH0D3E0GZTk0EsHerbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful InteractionsReuters Health Information 2005. © 2005 Reuters Ltd.Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing orsimilar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent ofReuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in thecontent, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and theReuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reutersgroup of companies around the world.NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 13 - Patients with arthritis are more likelythan the general population to be using herbal remedies, which increases therisk of serious interactions with prescribed medications, results of aBritish study suggest.Echinacea, gingko biloba, devil's claw, ginger and garlic are the mostdangerous, Dr. Holden told Reuters Health. Echinacea poses a risk ofhepatotoxicity when used with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Theothers could aggravate gastrointestinal bleeding risks when taken along withnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids.To examine the extent of the problem, Dr. Holden, at Nuffield OrthopaedicCentre in Oxford, and colleagues sent anonymous questionnaires to 238rheumatology outpatients.A total of 105 subjects (44%) had used herbal or over-the-counter remediesin the previous 6 months, the authors report in the May issue of the lsof the Rheumatic Diseases."This is much higher than the general population," Dr. Holden told ReutersHealth. "These patients have a condition that will last for life, andthey're keen to seek alternatives rather than conventional medicationssometimes."Twenty-six subjects (11%) were taking remedies that put them at risk forserious interactions with conventional drugs. Their responses showed that 24were unaware of the risk, although 10 of them had sought advice from ahealth professional before starting."Physicians have to be super cautious to make sure they ask what medicationsthe patients are taking," Dr. Holden advised. "And patients should be askingtheir doctors if they're already on herbal remedies if they're safe to takewith arthritis drugs."Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:790.