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Diagonal Method to Measure Synergy Among Any Number of Drugs
Published on: June 21, 2018
Potential interactions between complementary/alternative products and conventional medicines in a Medicare population
Gary W Elmer1, William E Lafferty, Patrick T Tyree
1Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
The Annals of Pharmacotherapy
|September 6, 2007
Summary
Concurrent use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products with conventional drugs is common in Medicare patients. High-risk bleeding interactions, particularly with ginkgo, garlic, and aspirin, warrant further research.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Pharmacology
- Integrative Medicine
Background:
- The elderly population frequently uses complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products.
- Limited data exists on concurrent CAM and conventional medicine use and potential adverse reactions in older adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of CAM product use alongside conventional medications in a Medicare population.
- To assess the risk of adverse interactions between CAM products and conventional drugs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of Cardiovascular Health Study interview data (1994-1999).
- Tabulation of concurrent CAM-conventional drug combinations.
- Categorization of adverse interaction risks (unknown, theoretical, significant).
Main Results:
- Over 5000 participants (median age 75) showed increasing CAM product use from 6.3% to 15.1% between 1994-1999.
- Concurrent use of CAM and conventional drugs rose from 6.0% to 14.4%.
- Significant bleeding risk identified in 5.8% of users (393 interviews), primarily involving ginkgo, garlic, or ginseng with anticoagulants/antiplatelets.
Conclusions:
- Concurrent use of CAM products and conventional medicines is prevalent in the Medicare population.
- High priority research is needed to define risks of combining ginkgo and garlic with aspirin.
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