Survey of the Use of Kampo Medicines at Kampo Clinic I-Combined Use with Western Drugs-

In recent years, the combined use of kampo medicines and Western drugs has been increasing.Though certain problems may occur when both types of medicines are taken together, they have not been adequately analyzed.To clarify such problems, we conducted a questionnaire survey of outpatients at the Kampo Clinic of Keio University Hospital.More than 50% of the patients being treated at the Kampo Clinic were also being treated at other departments, and the mean number of Western drugs being used in combination with kampo medicines was 1.5.Changes in the use of Western drugs after starting treatment with kampo medicine were observed in 20% of the patients, of whom 80% changed the frequency and/or dose of Western drugs by themselves or began to forget to take the Western drugs.In the future, physicians and pharmacists should make efforts to better understand the combined use of kampo medicines and Western drugs, as well as to improve compliance and avoid adverse effects due to drug interactions.