Do not combine medicine with supplements

illustration : medicine

From 2006 to 2011, the number of people aged 62-85 in the United States consume five even more drugs or supplements. Rose from 53.4% ​​to 67.1%. Not infrequently that combine medicine with supplements, because the assumption that only vitamin supplements that can help the body in getting more fit condition.

Thus, the number of adults that incorporates at least one prescription medication and supplements rose between 2005 and 2011.

In fact, there are several medicines that when combined with other medicine without a doctor's approval, or combined with certain supplements will cause harmful side effects.

For example, a prescription medication such as warfarin, used to thin the blood when combined with supplements such as omega-3 from fish oil, can increase the risk of bleeding for a particular patient.

To see the impact of the merger of certain medications and supplements, the researchers used a database of 20 prescription drugs most commonly prescribed by doctors, as well as the selection of supplements used by participants in the study.

They estimate the effects that may occur when medications and supplements taken together.

Researchers found that 16 combinations of prescription drugs with supplements is estimated to increase the risk of side effects, and most likely happened is bleeding.

Dima M. Qato, assistant professor of pharmaceutical systems at the University of Illinois at Chicago and her team suggest, changes must also be made in terms of policy physician practices.

Need to set guidelines advise doctors to provide more comprehensive information to patients about the effects of combining certain medicine, whether prescription or OTC drugs.

Although pharmacists can play a role in reducing the risk of combining medicine with certain supplements, but does not completely solve the problem, said Qato. Patients also need to be more vigilant and told medical workers what medicines they take.

"One of the best ways to ensure that patients combine the drug in a safe way is to ensure that the health care team of physicians, nurses, to pharmacists, know about all the medications that are being taken by the patient," said Dr. Michael Steinman, professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco.

A study in JAMA Internal Medicine showed that many patients do not tell their doctor about prescription medications they are taking.

The researchers analyzed national survey data of adults of all ages in the United States and found that 24.9% of them do not tell their doctor that they are taking supplements or herbs. The most common reason is because the doctor did not ask, so patients do not consider it important.

"The message for doctors is that we must be more proactive to ask patients about things that happen in their lives and different therapies that also they are doing," said Steinman.

"And the lesson for the patient, that it was very important for doctors to know what medications or supplements that are being consumed."