Document Detail


Adverse reactions to complementary medicines: the Australian pharmacy experience.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20636677     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to determine the prevalence of adverse reactions to over-the-counter complementary medicines and their severity, as described by consumers. Secondary aims were to identify consumers' reporting behaviours and understanding of the AUST L designation on product labels. METHODS: An anonymous, self-administered survey was completed by randomly selected pharmacy customers at 60 community pharmacy locations between August 2008 and February 2009. KEY FINDINGS: Of the 1121 survey participants (response rate 62%), 72% had used a complementary medicine product in the previous 12 months, and 7% of this group (n = 55) reported having experienced an adverse reaction at some time. Of these, 71% described the reaction as mild and not requiring treatment, 22% as moderate and/or requiring advice from a healthcare professional and 7% (n = 4) described it as severe and requiring hospitalisation. If they were to report the reaction, it was most commonly to a medical practitioner. Most (88%) of complementary medicine consumers had never noticed the term 'AUST L'. CONCLUSIONS: Complementary medicines are widely used by pharmacy customers. Adverse reactions to these products are under-reported to healthcare authorities. Most adverse reactions are mild and serious reactions are rare. Customers have little awareness of the designation AUST L.
Authors:
Lesley A Braun; Evilin Tiralongo; Jenny M Wilkinson; Susan Poole; Ondine Spitzer; Michael Bailey; Michael Dooley
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The International journal of pharmacy practice     Volume:  18     ISSN:  0961-7671     ISO Abbreviation:  Int J Pharm Pract     Publication Date:  2010 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2010-07-19     Completed Date:  2010-09-02     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9204243     Medline TA:  Int J Pharm Pract     Country:  England    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  242-4     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Cardiothoracic Surgical Research Unit, Department of Surgery, Monash University Alfred Hospital, Melbourne. l.braun@alfred.org.au
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems*
Australia
Community Pharmacy Services
Complementary Therapies / adverse effects*
Drug Labeling
Hospitalization / statistics & numerical data
Humans
Prevalence
Questionnaires
Severity of Illness Index

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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