PREVALENCE OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND AYURVEDIC MEDICINES’ INTAKE BY PATIENTS TAKING PRESCRIBED ALLOPATHIC MEDICINES AT LUCKNOW

Aim: Present study was done to know the prevalence of the use of dietary supplements and ayurvedic drugs by patients taking allopathic drugs.

Introduction: Allopathic drugs are likely to act with ayurvedic drugs and dietary supplements and concurrently used. This concept is usually not recognized by the patients and physicians. Sometimes this may prove dangerous. Present study was done to find out the prevalence of concurrent administration of these produce so that a message can be spread to reduce these habits in patients and physicians.

Method: We did study among private practitioners of medicine, general surgery and gynaecology specialities. The patients were interviewed by our team members and requested to fill a proforma. After completion of study data were segregated and analyzed for various parameters.

Results: Results showed that 25.6% patients attending physician, 39.9% attending surgeons and 41.4% attending gynaecologists were taking some or other preparations in various forms. Out of all patients only 18.2% patients knew that these preparations were also a form of drug. Only 9.1% of all patients told this information to their treating doctors. Only 15.2% doctors asked the patients about this type of possibility.

Conclusion: Study shows that considerable proportions of patients have been taking dietary supplements and ayurvedic preparations without knowing that this may be harmful when taken along with allopathic medicines. This needs considerations for rational therapy.