12.01.07
A recent study in The Annals of Pharmacotherapy explored the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) product use concurrent with conventional medications, prescription and nonprescription in a Medicare population, and assessed the risk for adverse interactions. A retrospective analysis was performed on Cardiovascular Health Study interview data from 1994, 1995, 1997 and 1999. The data consisted of over 5000 participants with a median age of 75. According to the study, the percent of participants using CAM products during the four time periods was 6%, 7%, 13% and 15%, respectively. The percent using both CAM products and conventional drugs was 6%, 6%, 12% and 1%. Of these, 294 (6%) individuals took combinations considered to have a significant risk for an adverse interaction. Combinations with risk were observed on 393 separate interviews. Most (379) involved a risk of bleeding due to use of ginkgo, garlic or ginseng together with aspirin, warfarin, ticlopidine or pentoxifylline. An additional 786 observations of combinations were considered to have some, albeit theoretical or uncertain, risk for an adverse interaction. Researchers concluded that concurrent use of CAM products and conventional medicines in a Medicare population was common. They also suggested further research be undertaken to define the risks of combining ginkgo and garlic supplements with aspirin.