Positive Health Online

Abstract

CASTOT and colleagues, Centre Regional de Pharmacovigilance Hopital Fernand Widal, Paris, France write that for several years, herbal medicines have been consumed increasingly by patients without prescription . Traditionally herbal medicines are innocuous ; however as medicinal products they require drug surveillance in order to identify any risks. A primary concern is to confer upon them legal status, in order to evaluate their efficacy and control their safety. Published research indicates that the risk is usually due either to a contaminant, an added drug or falsification . The Regional Pharmacovigilance Centres have received, since 1985, 341 reports of undesirable effects attributed to herbal medicines . Included were 30 cases of hepatitis associated with germander which has now been withdrawn from the French market. This illustrates the role for the national system and its responsibility for collecting and evaluating adverse drug reactions due to herbal medicines.

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References

Castot A et al. Pharmacovigilance off the beaten track: herbal surveillance or pharmacovigilance of medicinal plants. Therapie. 52(2): 97-103. Mar-Apr 1997.