IMPORTANT HERB-DRUG INTERACTIONS

Background. Herbal medicines have been popular for self-medication for a long time. Patients consider them to be safe because of their natural origin. Concurrent use of herbal medicines with other drugs can lead to interactions that are manifested as amplified or reduced pharmacological or toxic effect of any of the pair. It is worrying that patients use herbal medicines with prescribed or OTC drugs without informing the physician.Conclusions. Many herbal medicines influence the action of numerous drugs. Medicinal plants most often involved in the interactions are St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum), garlic (Allium sativum), ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), ginseng (Panax ginseng), kava (Piper methysticum), and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi). Dangerous interactions are more likely to occur in perioperative patients as they use many prescribed drugs at the same time. Also sensitive to interactions are transplant patients, patients on anticoagulants and HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy. Physicians should consider possible interactions with herbal medicines when prescribing drugs and before operations. Patients should be asked if they use any of the above listed herbs. Physicians should warn them about the dangers of simultaneous use of those herbs and prescribed or OTC drugs.