Concurrent Use of Conventional drugs with Chinese Herbal Products in Taiwan: A Population-based Study

• Main Authors: Ming-Chen Chen, 陳明正
• Other Authors: Jung-Nien Lai
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/41843218409952503304

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 傳統醫藥研究所 === 99 === Background: More and more evidence presented the increasing risk of herb-drug interactions since the more popular use of Chinese herbal products (CHP) worldwide. Up to date research reporting the co-utilization of herb and drug was scarce. The aim of this study was to explore the true condition in concurrent use of conventional drug and CHP among patients. Methods: The study includes 2 parts. Part 1 analyzed the age, gender, region, monthly income and primary diagnosis in co-prescription of CHP and conventional drug in Taiwan, which were recruited from a random-national level of 1000,000 beneficiaries in 2007 from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD). The logistic regression method was employed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for co-prescription CHP (CH+D) and conventional drug alone (D-alone). . Part 2 analyzed the age, gender, region, monthly income, primary diagnosis and prevalence rate in ever-reported herb-drug interaction in Taiwan. Results: Part 1 provides evidence that the combined prescribed CHP among Western Medicine (WM) users is relative high prevalence (14.1%) in Taiwan. We found that females and regular salary income were more likely to consume CHP and conventional drug concurrently than males and low-income group. The age distribution of co-utilization peaked in the over 64 years of age, followed by the 55–64 and 45-54 years of age, which was by contrast with the distribution of Western Medicine (WM) utilization. For all WM users, diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and congenital anomalies were the top two disease categories consuming CHP the same day in Taiwan. About one of five WM elderly users consumed herbs concurrently intending to relieve their discomfort symptoms of upper respiratory infection, hypertension, or symptoms, signs, and ill-defined conditions. Diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and congenital anomalies were the top two disease categories consuming CHP among WM users. Pain relief and anti-cough were the top two most frequent conventional drugs to co-prescribe with CHP. Acetaminophen was the most frequently prescribed pain killers to combine use with CHP. Part 2 presented the prevalence of ever reported herb-drug interaction was 18% in 10 year-co-prescription cohort studies. We found that females and regular salary income were more likely to be the ever-reported herb-dug interaction than males and low-income group. The age distribution of the ever-reported herb-drug interaction group peaked in the over 64 years of age. For all co-prescription users, a disease of the circulatory system was the most frequent primary disease category in ever-reported herb-drug interaction in Taiwan. The concurrent use of licorice and corticosteroid were the most frequent remedies in ever-reported herb-drug interaction group. Conclusion: Because of the high prevalence rate of the concurrent use of CHP and conventional drug in Taiwan. Safety issues and herb-drug interactions are warranted for future research.