BEWARE
Always seek professional medical advice before taking any form of medication, be it herbal or conventional. It is also good to be aware that medication is an expensive commodity. Using two different types of drugs simultaneously is not only a health risk but also a financial burden. With very few approved herbal remedies, it is also likely to come across several cone-men selling un-approved herbal medicine claiming to cure multiple diseases. Diseases such as HIV-AIDS have no cure to date, therefore many are drawn to believe that herbal medicines can cure it, this is NOT true. Common diseases which people often tend to seek/promote herbal medicine treatment for include: Diabetes, TB, Cancer, and Hypertension among others. NB. Prevention is not the same as treatment, as many of the above mentioned disease can indeed be prevented through consumption of natural foods and supplements as well as healthy lifestyle. This should not be confused with seeking cure with herbal medicine upon diagnosis of an illness.
HERBAL OR CONVENTIONAL Concomitant use of herbal and convetional medicine
INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICAL STUDENTS’ FEDERATION www.afro.ipsf.org
afro.ipsf.org
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DEFINITIONS
HERBAL MEDICINE
Also known as botanical medicine, is a medical system based on the use of plants or plant extracts that may be eaten or applied to the skin.
IS IT IMPORTANT TO DISCLOSE INFORMATION TO THE PHARMACIST OR DOCTORS IF YOU ARE USING ANY OTHER MEDICINE (in this case herbal)?
WHAT IS MEDICATION ADHERENCE?
It is the degree to which a person takes prescribed drugs as directed. Adherence to (compliance with) drug treatment is important.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
It is important because: It helps to prevent possible interactions between the herbal medicine and conventional medicine. Concurrent use of medications could result in complications of a disease. This will prompt the doctor or pharmacist to discuss with you the patient about potential risks to avoid during therapy. It helps the pharmacist or doctor to properly schedule drug administration to prevent drug-drug interactions. Based on the potency of the herbal medicine, it can help the doctor or pharmacist decide on whether to continue or discontinue the herbal medicine. Patients having chronic diseases such as diabetes or hypertension could have their normal health status altered if they take herbal medicine alongside conventional long term medications. As most herbal medicine hardly comes in standard dosages, the pharmacist or doctor can help determine the correct amount of the medication required to produce a therapeutic effect. Most herbal medications are concoctions and may have only placebo effect. This helps doctors or pharmacists negotiate a way forward.
Also known as mainstream medicine, It is a medical model of evidence based practice for diagnosing and treating diseases. Also referred to as orthodox or western medicine.
CAN BOTH MEDICINES BE TAKEN AT THE SAME TIME FOR TREATMENT?
NO.
It is advised not to take both medicines at the same time.
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WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO ADHERE TO ONE REGIMEN AT A TIME?
Because taking the two at the same time may result to an interaction which may increase or decrease the effects of the other and this could pose a health risk. Also, to prevent treatment failures, a combination of drugs could lead to confusion on how it is administered and it helps to prevent drug resistance.
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