CONTEXT Adverse drug reactions and drug-drug interactions are common. Medication-induced morbidity might be prevented through the documentation of medicines in the medical record and review of the medical record before new medications are prescribed. PRACTICE PATTERN EXAMINED Documentation and review by primary care physicians of patient use of prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs (OTCs...

The morbidity associated with cancer has rapidly increased in recent years, and in the previous 5 years has had a tendency to be the leading cause of fatality compared with cardiovascular disease. Therefore, effective measures are required with an aim to reduce the incidence. Based on the results of clinical investigation, a multidisciplinary treatment strategy for cancer, which includes radiot...

QUESTION A 23-year-old patient of mine has been taking St John's wort for postpartum depression for about 2 years. She is now planning her second pregnancy. Is she or her fetus at risk if she continues to take the herbal therapy? ANSWER Despite the widespread availability and use of St John's wort and extensive research on the herb, there are almost no data on reproductive safety. At this sta...

Phytotherapy is based on the use of herbal medicines. Treatment with phytopreparations characterized by efficiency, low risk adverse events and ability to enhance effect complex therapy. Herbal preparations are subject standard requirements for quality control, safety effectiveness. Inflammatory diseases respiratory tract numerous symptoms that significantly reduce life patient. Along pathogene...

Objective. To investigate the effects of Chinese herbal therapy on chronic tension-type headache. Method. 132 patients with chronic tension-type headache were enrolled in the study. All patients filled in headache questionnaire at baseline phase and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after baseline. As an alternative therapeutic method, the patients were orally administrated Chinese herbal concoction for ten d...

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) consists of highly effective prescription medications for treating menopausal symptoms; however, these agents have exhibited side effects including the risk of estrogen-induced carcinogenesis. Therefore, interest in phytotherapy-based materials as a natural source of alternatives to estrogen therapy has increased. However, some of these herbal medicines have be...

BACKGROUND Japanese herbal medicines can be used as alternatives to estrogen therapy and are sometimes prescribed for menopausal syndrome because they have fewer side effects and are associated with better compliance than estrogen therapy, but little is known about the pharmacological mechanisms of such treatments. This study aimed to explore the mechanisms responsible for the estrogen-like eff...

BACKGROUND Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a common complementary therapy used by patients with cancer for reduction of chemotherapy-induced toxic effects. This study applied the highest standard of clinical trial methodology to examine the role of CHM in reducing chemotherapy-induced toxicity, while maintaining a tailored approach to therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with early-stage b...

Adherence to antiretroviral medication in the treatment of HIV is critical, both to maximize efficacy and to minimize the emergence of drug resistance. The aim of this prospective study in three public hospitals in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, is to assess the use of Traditional Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) by HIV patients and its effect on antiretroviral (ARV) adherence 6 mont...