QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Résumé Extracto Full Text PDF Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Articles Ahead of Print [Order Reprint] Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Charrois, T. L Articles by Vohra, S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Charrois, T. L Articles by Vohra, S.

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Community Identification of Natural Health Product-Drug Interactions

Research Associate, CARE Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Richard L Hill, MB BS

Deputy Director, Adverse Drug Reactions Unit, Therapeutic Goods Administration, Woden, Australia

Duc Vu, MSc PhD

Director, Bureau of Cardiology, Allergy and Neurological Sciences, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Brian C Foster, PhD

Senior Science Advisor, Therapeutic Products Directorate, Health Canada

Heather S Boon, BScPharm PhD

Associate Professor, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Kristie Cramer, MSc

Research Associate, CARE Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta

Sunita Vohra, MD MSc

Director, CARE Program; Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta

Reprints: Dr. Vohra, University of Alberta, 8213 Aberhart Centre #1, 11402 University Ave., Edmonton, AB T6G2J3, Canada, fax 780/492-2105, svohra{at}ualberta.ca

BACKGROUND: The majority of Canadians use natural health products (NHPs), most of which are purchased in pharmacies. Community pharmacists regularly field inquiries regarding NHPs. As such, pharmacists are ideally placed to answer questions about NHP use and interactions with other medications.

OBJECTIVE: To identify community pharmacists' familiarity with NHPs and NHP-related adverse events (AEs) and their knowledge and ability to counsel on potential and known NHP-drug interactions.

METHODS: Survey questions were derived from a literature review of previous surveys, data collected from Health Canada, and in consultation with clinicians, pharmacists, policy-makers, and researchers. A convenience sample of 321 community pharmacists in Alberta and British Columbia were asked to participate.

RESULTS: We received responses from 132 pharmacists, resulting in a response rate of 41% (132/321). A total of 19% of the sample had previously reported an adverse event to Health Canada. When asked specifically about NHP-drug interactions/AEs, 47% of pharmacists stated that they had identified a potential interaction; however, only 2 of these reported it to Health Canada. Pharmacists were most familiar (76% of respondents) with the interaction between sertraline and St. John's wort and were least familiar with interactions between NHPs and anti-retrovirals.

CONCLUSIONS: This survey provides evidence to suggest that pharmacists encounter reportable NHP-drug interactions, yet rarely choose to report these events. The current lack of available data on NHP AEs makes it difficult to provide patients and healthcare providers with useful strategies for managing AEs and drug interactions. Changes to the current system of monitoring AEs due to NHPs and further education of healthcare professionals regarding NHP-drug interactions is required.

Key Words: community pharmacy services, herbal-drug interactions

Published Online, June 19, 2007. www.theannals.com, DOI 10.1345/aph.1H463

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Bukutu, J. Deol, L. Shamseer, and S. Vohra Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Medicine: Atopic Dermatitis Pediatr. Rev., December 1, 2007; 28(12): e87 - e94. [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Dennehy Comment: Community Identification of Natural Health Product Drug Interactions Ann. Pharmacother., December 1, 2007; 41(12): 2073 - 2073. [Full Text] [PDF]