PharmaLive -
[Cached Version]
Published on: 10/15/2002
Last Visited: 11/23/2002
"Physicians and patients need to know that mixing herbal and prescription medications can potentially lead to harmful consequences," says Edward Fang, MD, and Editor-in-Chief at ePocrates."For example, ginkgo and ginseng can cause an increased risk of bleeding in patients taking anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, while kava can increase the risk of liver toxicity if given with certain cholesterol-lowering agents."
An estimated 14% to 18% of the adult population, or approximately 15 million Americans, use herbal remedies and/or supplements concurrently with prescription medications, according to studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association(1,2).The use of alternative medicines is greatest among adults 65 years of age and older; the prevalence of herbal remedy usage in this age group is estimated to be as high as 64%(3).The use of herbal medications can be particularly problematic in patients undergoing surgery(4).