COMPLICATIONS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF CHINESE HERBAL MEDICATIONS CONTAINING UNDECLARED PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Objective. Many patients with chronic disease use alternative therapie s. Our objective was to investigate complications resulting from the u se of Chinese herbal medications containing undeclared prescription dr ugs, and to analyze these pills. Methods. Medical records of 5 patient s with complications were reviewed. Pills from symptomatic and asympto matic individuals were analyzed for possible content of undeclared pre scription drugs. Results. All pills analyzed contained mefenamic acid and diazepam. Complications related to the presence of these substance s included, among others, massive gastrointestinal bleeding. Conclusio n. Chinese herbal medications may contain undeclared prescription drug s including nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and benzodiazepines.