IRISH PATIENTS have been warned about the potential dangers of some Chinese and herbal medicines that may contain prescription medicine agents not included on the product ingredients list.
Research presented at the Hospital Pharmacists Association of Ireland (HPAI) annual conference called for the inclusion of herbal medicines in patients’ medication reviews.
The study was carried out in the Mater hospital following the case of a patient who was reviewed for type 2 diabetes.
Under questioning the patient admitted to taking a “vitamin-type” tablet that turned out to be a Chinese herbal medicine called Cow’s Head Brand, Tung Shueh Pills.
Following analysis by the Irish Medicines Board, the pills were found to contain a corticosteroid despite it not being listed in the ingredients.
Regular unintended administration of a corticosteroid can result in adrenal fatigue, and cause exhaustion, vomiting, dizziness and more severe symptoms if continued. Cow’s Head Brand, Tung Shueh Pills are banned in the US.
Speaking to The Irish Times, one of the study authors, Mater hospital medicines information services manager Mariosa Kieran, said patients should consult their doctor when considering taking Chinese or herbal medicines, and only buy herbal supplements from recognised manufacturers and suppliers.
The study was one of 98 submitted for appraisal to the HPAI conference.
Common themes included improving medication safety measures and highlighting the role of the hospital pharmacist in reducing medication errors.