Characterization of Natural and Traditional Medicine adverse reactions

Abstract

Introduction: The products and the techniques of traditional and natural medicine are used since time immemorial. Supporters of this therapeutic modality recognized as safe and harmless. Its use requires thorough investigations are not limited to the field of experimentation. The pharmacovigilance studies retrieve relevance. Objective: To characterize the adverse reactions associated with the use of traditional and natural medicine. Methods: It was conducted an observational descriptive study of a sample of 72 patients in whom reported adverse Traditional and Natural Medicine reactions in a population of 10 428 patients in which suspected adverse drug reactions were reported and received by the Provincial Coordinating Unit of Pharmacovigilance of the Province of Villa Clara, in the period from January 2011 to October 2014. Results: In 14 patients garlic adverse reactions were reported, followed by those caused by acupuncture and related techniques; Adverse effects were mild in 43 patients and no severe reactions were reported; 57 adverse reactions were reported in adults; 50 patients were female; rare adverse reactions occurred in 26 patients; respecting to causality about 54 were likely in them; adverse reactions affected the system of digestive organs in 34 patients. Conclusions: Herbal medicines, especially garlic, listed as products of Traditional and Natural Medicine with a significant incidence of adverse reactions, which are moderate according to the severity, in a rare considerable amount depending on the frequency and, as causality, on probable.

Keywords

• productos biológicos/efectos adversos
• plantas medicinales/efectos adversos
• farmacovigilancia