Polypharmacy in diabetes: A boon or a bane

Abstract

Diabetes is one among the various lifestyle disorders and was reported to be 7th leading cause of death by the WHO in 2016. To manage blood glucose levels and combat associated medical conditions, polypharmacy is becoming the choice of treatment by diabetics. Due to the unawareness of diabetics regarding the polypharmacy, it was thought to gather the scientific published literature at a place which will guide both the physicians as well as patients to choose a right herb along with conventional medicine. The scientific online portals were reviewed, and data reporting synergistic or antagonistic effects were searched for their clinical as well as preclinical evidence. There are several herbs mentioned in classical texts, which have antidiabetic potential and other beneficial effects on one's body. These drugs do exhibit synergistic as well as antagonistic effects when used along with conventional medicines. One should opt for polypharmacy cautiously and judiciously under medical supervision only.

Keywords

• concomitant use
• diabetes
• herb and drug interaction
• home remedies
• polypharmacy
• prameha