Herbal-Drug Interactions Important in Dentistry, 4th Edition

Course overview

With the increasing popularity of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), oral healthcare professionals (OHCPs) must be aware of herbal-drug interactions, A survey of patients with heart disease, diabetes, psychiatric disorders, and/or hypertension found that 79% were taking supplements concurrently with prescription medications. Among those with cardiac disease, 20% reported regular use of herbals. About 16% of patients with diabetes and 16% of patients with psychiatric disorders reported regular use of CAMs. These data underscore the prevalence of herbal supplement use and the potential for herbal-drug interactions. Thus, the OHCP needs to be increasingly aware not only of these products' effects and advantageous synergies, but also of their side effects and possible or probable adverse drug reactions. This course is specifically designed for all members of the dental healthcare team: dentists, dental hygienists, and dental assistants. After completing this basic-level course, the learner will be able to discuss the most commonly used herbal medicines in the United States. A stoplight approach to risk assessment is discussed and a general strategy to avoid the most common herbal-drug interactions is suggested. Critical patient populations are emphasized and specific herbal-drug interactions that can lead to increased bleeding, decreased blood glucose levels, and sedation changes are discussed.