Herbal medicines supplied by community pharmacies in Lagos, Nigeria: pharmacists’ knowledge

Pharmacy Practice

Ibrahim A. Oreagba¹  Olayinka O. Ogunleye¹  Idowu O. Senbanjo¹  Kazeem A. Oshikoya¹  Sunday O. Olayemi¹  Rashidat Oluwa¹ 

关键词: Phytotherapy;    Herbal Medicine;    Herb-Drug Interactions;    Pharmacies;    Pharmacists;    Health Knowledge;    Attitudes;    Practice;    Nigeria;   

DOI  :  

学科分类：药理学

来源: Centro de Investigaciones y Publicaciones Farmaceuticas

【 摘 要 】

Background : The use of herbal medicines is on the increase globally and they are usually supplied in pharmacies as non-prescription medicines. Pharmacists are, therefore, responsible for educating and informing the consumers about rational use of herbal medicines. Objectives : To evaluate the knowledge of pharmacists in Lagos, Nigeria with regards to the herbal medicines they supplied by their pharmacies. Methods : Pharmacists in charge of randomly selected 140 community pharmacies from 20 Local Government Areas in Lagos were required to fill out a self-administered questionnaire. We gathered information on their knowledge of the indications, adverse effects, potential drug-herb interactions and contraindications of the herbal medicines they supply in their pharmacies. Results : Of the 140 questionnaires distributed, 103 (72.9%) participants completed the questionnaire appropriately.  The majority (74; 71.8%) of the participants were males and 36-50 years (56; 54.4%). The pharmacies supplied mostly Yoyo cleanser bitters® (101; 98.5%), ginseng (97; 98.5%), Jobelyn® (91; 88.3%), Ciklavit® (68; 66.6%), gingko (66; 64.1%), herbal tea (66; 64.1%), and Aloe vera (57; 55.3%). The pharmacists self-rated their knowledge of herbal medicines mostly as fair (39%) and good (42%), but they exhibited poor knowledge with regards to the indications, contraindications and safety profiles. Seventy participants consulted reference materials such as leaflet insert in the herbal medicines (56%) and internet (20%) before supplying herbal medicines. The information most frequently sought was herb-drug interactions (85%), contraindications (75%) and adverse effects (70%). Conclusions : Community pharmacists need to be informed about the indications and safety profiles of herbal medicines.

【 授权许可】

Unknown