Health Canada Reports on Adverse Events, Herbs 34624

Health Canada Reports on Adverse Events, Herbs

OTTAWAIn its quarterlypublication of alerts to health care professionals, Health Canada reported theadverse events recorded for echinacea, Ginkgo biloba and St. Johns wort overthe past five years. These three herbs, according to the agency, were chosenbecause they are the countrys most popular herbal remedies. The advisory wascreated to help health professionals assess the risk-benefit ratio of healthcare products, which includes pharmaceuticals.

In a search of its database for the period between Jan. 1,1998, and June 30, 2003, Health Canada (www.hc-sc.gc.ca/English)reported echinacea was linked to 23 reports of suspected adverse events, ginkgoto 21 reports and St. Johns wort to 45 reports. In the case of echinacea,four cases were due to allergic reactions. Ginkgo was linked to a fatalgastrointestinal hemorrhage and a stroke (where the patients were also takingmultiple concomitant medications). For St. Johns wort, the most commonreports involved central and peripheral nervous system disorders and psychiatricdisorders, including two cases of mania (in the mania cases, patients were alsotaking pharmaceuticals).

In Canada, as in the United States, when an adverse event isfiled for a supplement containing two or more ingredients, the event is notedfor all ingredients individually.