Antonio M. CabreraAntonio M. Cabrera

Manuel R. Cabrera M.D.Manuel R. Cabrera M.D.

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Columbia-Presbyterian Medical CenterCenter

The Use of Non-The Use of Non-Prescription Drugs and Prescription Drugs and Herbal-Based Remedies Herbal-Based Remedies

by Asthmatics by Asthmatics

ObjectiveObjective

To asses the use of non-prescription To asses the use of non-prescription drugs and natural home remedies in a drugs and natural home remedies in a group of asthmatics group of asthmatics

IntroductionIntroduction

►The use of alternative herbal remedies The use of alternative herbal remedies for chronic ailments in common for chronic ailments in common throughout many culture in the worldthroughout many culture in the world

► In the United States the use of herbal In the United States the use of herbal products has been estimated to be products has been estimated to be increasing by about 25% per yearincreasing by about 25% per year

►Herbal remedies are most commonly Herbal remedies are most commonly used for allergies and asthmaused for allergies and asthma

MethodsMethods

►A survey was created regarding the use A survey was created regarding the use of non-prescription drugs such as allergy of non-prescription drugs such as allergy and cold remedies and bronchodilatiors and cold remedies and bronchodilatiors and regarding any home-based remedies and regarding any home-based remedies in the month prior to hospitalization in the month prior to hospitalization

►The questionnaires were administered in The questionnaires were administered in either Spanish or English, during January either Spanish or English, during January 2001 to September 2001, at the 2001 to September 2001, at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical CenterColumbia Presbyterian Medical Center

ResultsResults

►72 surveys were collected 72 surveys were collected ►The ages ranged from 20-83 years oldThe ages ranged from 20-83 years old►The mean age was 52 years oldThe mean age was 52 years old►The racial profile is as follows:The racial profile is as follows:

Results of Non-Prescription Results of Non-Prescription Drugs Drugs

►11 of 72 (15.3%) of patients 11 of 72 (15.3%) of patients disclosed taking non-prescription disclosed taking non-prescription bronchodilatorsbronchodilators

►1 of 72 (1.4%) took antihistamines 1 of 72 (1.4%) took antihistamines ►10 of 72 (13.9%) took over-the-10 of 72 (13.9%) took over-the-

counter decongestants or cold counter decongestants or cold remediesremedies

Results of Herbal Remedies Results of Herbal Remedies

►43 of 72 (60%) of patients disclosed 43 of 72 (60%) of patients disclosed taking herbal remedies taking herbal remedies

►38 of 43 (88.4%) were Hispanic 38 of 43 (88.4%) were Hispanic ►26 of 43 (60.5%) took the herbal 26 of 43 (60.5%) took the herbal

remedies in instead of their prescribed remedies in instead of their prescribed asthma medicinesasthma medicines

►32 of 43 (74.4%) took them in 32 of 43 (74.4%) took them in combination with their prescribed combination with their prescribed asthma medicines asthma medicines

Herbal RemediesHerbal Remedies

►The plant The plant savilasavila (aloe vera) was the (aloe vera) was the most prevalent herbal remedy most prevalent herbal remedy reported by 32 of 43 (74.4%) patientsreported by 32 of 43 (74.4%) patients

►List of other herbal remedies:List of other herbal remedies:

Discussion Discussion

►Sixty percent of the Hispanic asthmatic Sixty percent of the Hispanic asthmatic population report using herbal-based population report using herbal-based remedies in the management of their remedies in the management of their asthmaasthma

►The prevalent use of herbal-remedies The prevalent use of herbal-remedies was in the month prior to hospitalization was in the month prior to hospitalization for an acute asthma attack for an acute asthma attack

►The patients took non-prescription drugs The patients took non-prescription drugs and herbal remedies in attempt to and herbal remedies in attempt to alleviate asthma symptoms alleviate asthma symptoms

Discussion of SavilaDiscussion of Savila

►The most home remedy used was The most home remedy used was savilasavila commonly known as aloe or aloe veracommonly known as aloe or aloe vera

►Savila Savila is recognized for its stomach and is recognized for its stomach and intestinal usage as well as for skin rashesintestinal usage as well as for skin rashes

►The United States Federal Drug The United States Federal Drug Administration has recognized aloe as safeAdministration has recognized aloe as safe

►One study suggested an anti-inflammatory One study suggested an anti-inflammatory effect of aloe in asthmaeffect of aloe in asthma

Discussion of Medical Discussion of Medical ConcernsConcerns

►Asthmatics are substituting their Asthmatics are substituting their prescribed medications with herbal prescribed medications with herbal remediesremedies

►There is potential for unrecognized adverse There is potential for unrecognized adverse effects. We identified some diabetics effects. We identified some diabetics preparing home remedies with honey preparing home remedies with honey which may result in elevated blood sugar which may result in elevated blood sugar levels.levels.

►Asthmatics may be overly relying on Asthmatics may be overly relying on herbal remedies due to dissatisfaction with herbal remedies due to dissatisfaction with standard medical carestandard medical care

ConclusionConclusion

Despite the advances in asthma understanding Despite the advances in asthma understanding and medicines the use of herbal-based remedies and medicines the use of herbal-based remedies is prevalent in our Hispanic, mostly Dominican is prevalent in our Hispanic, mostly Dominican and Puerto Rican, asthmatic population. This is and Puerto Rican, asthmatic population. This is particularly prevalent in middle aged Hispanic particularly prevalent in middle aged Hispanic women. The efficacy and/or the potential women. The efficacy and/or the potential adverse effects of herbal-based remedies need adverse effects of herbal-based remedies need to be examined further. It is important for health to be examined further. It is important for health care professionals to be aware that not only are care professionals to be aware that not only are patients self-treating their asthma with home patients self-treating their asthma with home herbal remedies but they may also be herbal remedies but they may also be substituting them for their prescribed asthma substituting them for their prescribed asthma medicines.medicines.

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