Clinical pharmacology Flashcards
What is CAM?
Complementary and alternative medicine
What is the issue with CAM?
Lack of scientifically valid safety and efficacy data
What are the high risk groups for taking CAMs?
Children
Pregnant
Polypharmacy
Prescribed medicines
Give 3 examples of CAM.
Herbals Homeopathy Acupuncture Aromatherapy Chiropractor Hypnosis Chinese medicine Vitamins and minerals
What are concerns around CAMs?
Implausibility Lack of evidence of benefit Lack of safety data Evidence of harm Adverse effects/ herb-drug interactions Unqualified practitioners/missed diagnoses Stopping conventional medicines
What percentage of the population use CAM?
80%
Who commonly take CAM?
Affluent
Educated
Family and friends also
Why do people use CAM?
Desire to control own health Disatisfaction with conventional treatment (not for majority) Concerns about SEs of prescribed meds Chronic symptoms "Hollistic approach" Relatives use them
Why do healthcare professionals recommend CAM?
Experience - seeing is believing
Genuine belief in therapy
Use CAM themselves
“Feel good” factor in terminal illness
What are the issues surrounding herbals?
Active components - heavy metals, bacteria, medicines
Why is it an issue that women are using CAM during earlyand late pregnancy?
Most use herbals and we don’t know if they have teratogenic effects
No safety or efficacy data
Drug-herb interactions
Fetogenesis
What is the issue 70% of breast cancer patients using CAM?
Supplement estrogenic activity
Possible herb-drug interactions
e.g soya, evening primrose, chamomile, garlic
Give an example of a well known drug-herb interaction.
St John’s wort and warfarin
Discuss KAVA and consequences.
Used for anxiety and stress. Documented cases of hepatotoxicity
What is homeopathy?
a “treatment” based on “like cures like” by using of highly diluted substance,
One part toxin mixed with 10 parts water - potentiation (promote active “water memory”)
Discuss efficacy of homeopathy.
Scientifically implausible
Issues with quality of studies
No convincing evidence
What are issues with homeopathy?
Missed diagnosis
Inappropriate treatment
Adulteration (can contain other compounds that can kill you)
What is acupuncture?
Traditional Chinese medicine
Vital force (“Qi”) - circulates along “meridians” (12 which correspond to 12 major functions or organs o the body). Trigger points targeted for needling to deal with pain
What happens during acupuncture?
4-10 points are needled
Left in for 10-30 minutes
For chronic conditions - 6-12 sessions every 3 months
Discuss efficacy of acupuncture.
Partially explained by physiology of pain - stimulate fibres entering dorsal horn of spinal cord, inhibit impulses. Stimulate release endogenous opioid and other neurotransmitters e.g serotonin
What are serious risks of acupuncture?
Similar to any harm with needle use e.g infection, pneumothorax, pneumopericardium, organ puncture
What is aromatherapy?
Use of essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers and other plants to treat diseases. Commonly administered by massage
Can aromatherapy be harmful?
Yes e.g inhalation can cause bronchospasm in asthma.
Skin irritation Allergies Photosensitivity Insomnia Abortifacient if taken in pregnancy
Why is aromatherapy used for cancer patients?
Short term benefits on psychological wellbeing
Effect on anxiety
Improve physical symptoms
Lack of evidence for all
What are the main concerns of CAMs?
Efficacy
Cost effectiveness
Safety
Increasing availability
What do the MHRA do?
License medicines
What is pharmacovigilance?
Process involving detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of ADRs
What is the main method of post-marketing surveillance of ARDs in the UK?
Yellow card scheme
What is the MHRA yellow card scheme?
Collects info on suspected problems or incidents involving SEs, medical devices, defective medicines, counterfeit or fake medicines or medical devices, safety concerns
Who can file a yellow card report?
Voluntary scheme
Healthcare professionals and members of the public