Explaining your Medicines.
Global trends show that there is an incline in the consumption of herbal medicines. In Guyana, the practice of herbal medicine is also catching on, whereby the local herbalist may concoct a potion from raw herbs for someone who is desperately in need of a cure for an illness. Other times, consumers may seek an alternative refined herbal product based on recommendations from friends or family or simply from the internet where there is an overwhelming volume of information. What we tend to overlook as consumers and also as medical professionals, is whether there are any potential interactions with prescription drugs and herbal medicines, especially since there is limited, publicised clinical data to support rational decision making on patient safety matters.

Self medicating without an expert advice is an irresponsible practice,especially when you are aware that you suffer from a chronic illness for which you are using prescription meds on a long-term basis. It must be stressed that complete honesty with your physician is absolutely important, since some of the herbal meds may aggravate a predisposing illness: for example, if someone has a risk of hypertension they should be advised that the use of green coffee will elevate the pressure and can lead to complications.

The table below shows how popular herbal meds (both common and chemical names printed) interact with some prescription meds, altering their effect due to the interaction:


The upsurge of incidents and the severity of interactions are   results  of the increased consumption of herbal products with traditional meds. As a guide for the doctor or pharmacist, a narrow therapeutic index of a drug will indicate a potential drug interaction, whereby a small fluctuation in dosage can impact negatively on the outcome of the patient.

Apart from interactions with other drugs, the quality of the herbal product must be carefully considered since there are various brands on the market which may not be closely monitored. We must be vigilant of the quality of the product we are providing to the consumers. Packaging and price are not the criteria to use when selecting any pharmaceutical product, especially with the spate of counterfeit drugs and other poor quality of generics on the market.

Some herbal products are not tested and approved by ‘a’ drug testing authority. Almost every bottle of any herbal product indicates in fine prints on the label that the advertised statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Authority. This disclaimer serves as a protection for the manufacturing company against legal claims, implying basically that you use it at your own risk.

Without the appropriate consultations or interventions from a doctor or a pharmacist, you may be settling for a substandard product or in  worse case scenarios, creating an unnecessary admission to the emergency room.

In closing, it must be reinforced that you should seek professional advice from a qualified pharmacist prior to taking any herbal product. Complete disclosure of your established medical history and current medication regimen are two vital elements to present to your health care personnel when seeking such advice.

At Medicine Express on Camp Street, between Lamaha and New Market Streets, the pharmacist will provide a professional and friendly service. If you have any queries, comments or further information on the above topic kindly forward them to medicine.express@gmail.com or send them to 223 Camp Street, N/burg.
Tel #225-5142.