DRUG HERB INTERACTION –
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?
Date:
Time:
Venue:
Speaker:
13 May 2004 (Thursday)
6.15pm – 6.45 pm
(Light Refreshment)
6.45 – 7.45pm (Talk)
7.45 – 8.00om (Q&A)
Lecture Theatre 31
National University of Singapore
Dr Zhou Shufeng, MBBS, PhD
Department of Pharmacy, NUS
Herbs are often administered in combination with therapeutic
drugs, causing potential herb-drug interactions. Pharmacokinetic
herb-drug interactions are due to altered absorption, metabolism,
distribution and excretion of drugs, whereas pharmacodynamic
interactions involve synergistic, additive, or antagonistic effect.
The altered drug concentration by concomitant herbal medicines
is always due to induction or inhibition of cytochrome P450s
(CYP), and drug transporters such as P-glycoprotein (PgP).
There are an increased number of clinical reports on herb-drug
interactions, although many of them are from case reports and
limited clinical observations. For example, Ginkgo (Ginkgo
biloba) caused bleeding when combined with warfarin or aspirin,
raised blood pressure when combined with a thiazide diuretic
and even caused coma when combined with trazodone in
patients. Ginseng (Panax ginseng) reduced the blood levels of
alcohol and warfarin, and induced mania if used concomitantly
with phenelzine. Herb-drug interactions appear unpredictable
due to factors associated with herbs, drugs and patients.
Pharmacists can play a role in identifying, reporting and avoiding
herb-drug interactions.
About the speaker
Dr Zhou Shufeng is an Assistant Professor at the
Department of Pharmacy, National university of
Singapore. He is also a visiting professor of the
Cancer Center and School of Pharmacy at
Zhongshan University of China. Prior to this, he
served as a Clinical Specialist and Lecturer at the
Department of Medicine, Guangzhou First People's
Hospital, China. Dr Zhou attained his MBBS from
Zhongshan University of China and his PhD in
Pharmacology from the Auckland University, New
Zealand. His major research interests fall into drug
development, pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics
and herbal medicines. Dr Zhou has published more
than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles.
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April 2004.
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