Pharmacology - complementary medicine

Question 1

• Definitions of complementary and alternative medicines
• The growing use of CAM
• NHS usage
• Reasons why patients use it
• Quality of CAM remedies
• Safety of CAM remedies, including ADRs and interactions
• Efficacy of CAM remedies
• Regulation and reporting

Answer 1

.

Question 2

Examples of CAM (complementary and alternative medicines)

Answer 2

Herbal remedies
Chinese medicine
Massage
Yoga
Homeopathy
Acupuncture
Hyponosis
Meditation

Question 3

Concerns of CAMs

Answer 3

Lack of evidence for benefit
Lack of safety data
Evidence of harm
Side effects

Question 4

Reason why CAMs are used

Answer 4

Personal control over one’s own health.

Dissatisfaction with conventional treatment

Perception that conventional medicine lacks/disregards an holistic approach

Question 5

What % of UK use CAM

Answer 5

80%

Question 6

Predictors of CAM use

Answer 6

Family and friends recommendation

Well educated/affluent

Question 7

Adverse effects of CAMs

Answer 7

Teratogenesis
Fetogenesis
Drug-herb interactions

Question 8

What is homeopathy

Answer 8

Highly diluted substances (small doses of a substance that in large doses would cause symptoms of the illness) which can cause the body to heal itself

Question 9

Very little efficacy with homeopathy but in terms of safety, it’s …

Answer 9

Generally harmless

Question 10

Acupuncture primarily used for

Answer 10

pain relief

Question 11

What schemes are homeopathy registered under

Answer 11

Simplified Scheme 1992 or National Rules Scheme 2006.