Herbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful Interactions

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Herbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful Interactions

Patients with arthritis are more likely than the general population to

be using herbal remedies, which increases the risk of serious

interactions with prescribed medications, results of a British study

suggest.

Reuters Health Information 2005

http://mp.medscape.com/cgi-bin1/DM/y/eoCY0FmdAH0D3E0GZTk0Es

Herbal Remedies Put Arthritis Patients at Risk of Harmful Interactions

Reuters Health Information 2005. © 2005 Reuters Ltd.

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 13 - Patients with arthritis are more likely

than the general population to be using herbal remedies, which increases the

risk of serious interactions with prescribed medications, results of a

British study suggest.

Echinacea, gingko biloba, devil's claw, ginger and garlic are the most

dangerous, Dr. Holden told Reuters Health. Echinacea poses a risk of

hepatotoxicity when used with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. The

others could aggravate gastrointestinal bleeding risks when taken along with

nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids.

To examine the extent of the problem, Dr. Holden, at Nuffield Orthopaedic

Centre in Oxford, and colleagues sent anonymous questionnaires to 238

rheumatology outpatients.

A total of 105 subjects (44%) had used herbal or over-the-counter remedies

in the previous 6 months, the authors report in the May issue of the ls

of the Rheumatic Diseases.

" This is much higher than the general population, " Dr. Holden told Reuters

Health. " These patients have a condition that will last for life, and

they're keen to seek alternatives rather than conventional medications

sometimes. "

Twenty-six subjects (11%) were taking remedies that put them at risk for

serious interactions with conventional drugs. Their responses showed that 24

were unaware of the risk, although 10 of them had sought advice from a

health professional before starting.

" Physicians have to be super cautious to make sure they ask what medications

the patients are taking, " Dr. Holden advised. " And patients should be asking

their doctors if they're already on herbal remedies if they're safe to take

with arthritis drugs. "

Ann Rheum Dis 2005;64:790.