Clinical Tool Helps Reduce Medication Errors Associated with Herbal Remedies

SAN MATEO, Calif. -- ePocrates, the leading handheld physician network, announced today the launch of a new version of their evidence-based drug reference guide, ePocrates Rx. The new product, ePocrates Rx Pro, allows clinicians to check drug interactions between alternative and prescription drugs and also advise patients on reported uses, adverse events and side effects of herbal remedies.

"In recent years, there has been a considerable increase in the number of Americans using herbal medications and supplements," says Michael Ang-Lee, MD, an anesthesiologist who co-authored an article on the negative impact of herbal medications on perioperative patient care. "While medical schools are now addressing alternative treatments, physicians in practice typically know little about these therapies. I believe that including alternative medicines in ePocrates Rx is a splendid idea that will benefit patient care."

According to Michelle Snyder, vice president of marketing and strategic planning for ePocrates, the decision to add an alternative medicine module to ePocrates Rx grew out of discussions with ePocrates users around the country. "Most clinicians do not endorse herbal medications, since there is little scientific data for these remedies and there is a lack of standardization among the products. However, ePocrates users told us they wanted to be better educated about herbals since so many of their patients are taking them."

While the public perception is that herbal remedies are safe, many medical associations have been outspoken about the potential problems associated with the use of herbal remedies, which are not subject to regulation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For this reason, many associations are educating their members about adverse effects and drug interactions associated with herbal remedies and are encouraging clinicians to ask patients about use of these products.

"Physicians and patients need to know that mixing herbal and prescription medications can potentially lead to harmful consequences," says Edward Fang, MD, and editor-in-chief at ePocrates. "For example, ginkgo and ginseng can cause an increased risk of bleeding in patients taking anticoagulant drugs such as warfarin, while kava can increase the risk of liver toxicity if given with certain cholesterol-lowering agents."

An estimated 14 percent to 18 percent of the adult population, or approximately 15 million Americans, use herbal remedies and/or supplements concurrently with prescription medications, according to studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The use of alternative medicines is greatest among adults 65 years of age and older; the prevalence of herbal remedy usage in this age group is estimated to be as high as 64 percent. The use of herbal medications can be particularly problematic in patients undergoing surgery.

The new product, ePocrates Rx Pro, is the first handheld drug reference guide to provide comprehensive information on over 400 alternative medicines such as dosing, common uses, drug interactions, and adverse reactions. This information is integrated into ePocrates Rx, a standard drug database that contains complete prescribing information for over 2,700 medications and is currently used by one in four physicians. A key feature of ePocrates Rx Pro, which was developed using content in the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, is the ability to check for interactions among up to 30 prescription drugs and/or alternative medicines simultaneously. In addition to the herbal database, ePocrates Rx Pro also includes over 40 clinical tables and guidelines, 30 medical formulas and calculations, and ePocrates ID, the leading infectious disease application for handhelds.

Source: PRNewswire

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