Pensioners warned not to mix statins and herbal remedies

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Pensioners warned not to mix statins and herbal remedies

Postby herbsandhelpers » Fri Sep 28, 2018 6:47 pm

Pensioners warned not to mix statins and herbal remedies

More than a million pensioners risk worsening their chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke by taking herbal remedies alongside statins and warfarin, researchers have warned.

A new study found older people on the life-saving drugs are often also taking three or more herbal supplements, such as St John’s Wort or ginseng, which can reduce their effect.

Its authors said people regularly ingesting herbal medicinal products (HMPs) should inform their GP so that the risks of potential interactions with mainstream medication can be explained.

Published in the British Journal of General Practice, the study surveyed patients at two surgeries and found that one third of those over 65 were taking both prescribed drugs and herbal remedies.

Of these, a third were at risk of a herb-drug interaction, which if applied to the UK population means 1.3 million are at risk.

Roughly five million people are thought to take statins every day to control their cholesterol levels, while warfarin is taken by nearly one million.

As well as warning that the efficacy of these drugs may be reduced, the study identified a number combinations of medicines and herbal products which carried a “significant hazard”.

These including mixing bonecal with the thyroid drug Levothyroxine, peppermint with Lansoprazole, which regulates stomach acid, and St John’s Wort with Amlodipine, which is used to treat high blood pressure.

The authors from the University of Hertfordshire warned that the hazards included increased blood glucose concentration and a risk of bleeding.

“Some patients do not consider HMPs and dietary supplements as medicines," they wrote.

“Even when questioned, they may not always remember to disclose them.

“This highlights the need for direct questioning and for healthcare practitioners to ask about use of those HMPs and supplements by name, which this research has shown to be most at risk of interactions.”

They added: "GPs should routinely ask questions regarding herbal and supplement use, to identify and manage older adults at potential risk of adverse drug interactions."

According to the survey, women were around twice as likely to use prescribed medicine alongside a dietary supplements to men, 43.4 per cent compared to 22.5.

The most commonly used dietary supplements were cod liver oil, glucosamine, multivitamins, and vitamin D.

While common herbal medicinal products were evening primrose oil, valerian, and a branded herbal product that includes hops, gentian, and passion flower.

The study suggested that doctors print warnings about the risks of herb interactions on prescriptions, and that pharmacists should be trained to ask customers what herbal supplements they are taking.

“Liaising with community pharmacists could also raise awareness of a potential problem, particularly for older people on warfarin and statins,” it said.

Certain demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with concurrent medicine use.

As well as females, those in older age groups, people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, people with less than high school education, and people on low income are more likely to be concurrent users of medication and herbal supplements.

The new study follows a review by the University of Stellenbosch, published in January, which found dozens of cases in which alternative treatments appeared to have altered the effects of prescription medication, either diluting it, making it more potent or causing potentially dangerous side effects.

Chair of the Royal College of GPs Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard said: “Our ageing population means that more people are living longer, often with more than one long-term condition and as a result, they are often, quite appropriately, taking multiple prescribed medications in order to treat and manage these conditions.

“What’s important is that the patient’s GP is aware of all the different medicines and supplements a patient is taking, so that we can keep an eye on the way they interact with each other.

"Patients may not think to mention to their GP what herbal medications or dietary supplements they may be taking, but this research is a useful reminder that patients should disclose all of the medication they are using, including any natural or herbal drugs, so that the GP can weigh up all of the benefits and risks and advise of any potential adverse interactions."

Source: The Telegraph
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