Which medications used in paediatric practice have demonstrated natural health product-drug interactions?
B Johnston, D Roth, S Vohra Part A: Evidence-based answer and summary A recent Canadian survey (1) of 1804 children and youth suggested that 49% had tried one or more complementary and alternative medicine therapies and 41% had used a natural health product (NHP) in the previous year. Similarly, a three-month survey (2) of 142 families in an American paediatric emergency department suggested that 45% of caregivers had given their children an herbal remedy in the previous year. Part B: Clinical commentary Herbal therapies and other forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) are used by many Canadian children encountered in the ambulatory paediatric setting (1). Parents often administer natural health products (NHPs) and conventional medicines to their children simultaneously, but are usually unaware of potentially adverse pharmacological interactions (2). Physicians have a responsibility to be wary of these interactions, but does this mean that the conscientious paediatrician
