Medication complementary

These nontraditional products are often described as complementary or alternative medications (CAMs), to differentiate them from the more conventional medications that are classified as drugs by the FDA. lb be specific, a complementary medication is a substance that is used in addition to a conventional treatment, whereas an alternative medication is used as a substitute for a more traditional or mainstream treatment.44 Other terms are applied to specific interventions, such as herbal remedies, naturopathic treatments, phytomedicines, and so forth. Flowever, for the purpose of this chapter the term CAM will be used to encompass the array of substances that fall outside conventional pharmacotherapeutic regimens. 

Assessing the effectiveness of alternative or complementary medical treatments is not easy. Those committed to scientifically proven treatments of the kind described in this chapter often dismiss them as little more than quackery even though they appear to work for some people. The subject is admirably dealt with in Toby Murcott s book The Whole Story alternative medicine on trial published in 2005. He concludes that if the issue of whether they are effective is to be resolved then a degree of humility is going to be required by those on both sides of the debate. 

Typically/ serum chemistries and renal/ hepatiC/ hema-tologiC/ electrolyte/ and mineral panels are included. A complete medical history (including a review of all body systems) and physical examination and a complete medication history (including allergies and intolerances) should be included. Use of prescription/ nonprescriptioii/ and alternative and complementary medications by study participants should be specifically documented. 

Complementary Medications, Herbal Healing An Introduction for Social Work Professionals... 

It is hoped that aromatherapists do not try to convince their patients of a cure, especially in the case of serious ailments such as cancer, which often recede naturally for a time on their own. Conventional treatment should always be advised in the rst instance and retained during aromatherapy treatment with the consent of the patient s primary health care physician or consultant. Aromatherapy can provide a useful complementary medical service both in healthcare settings and in private practice and should not be allowed to become listed as a bogus cure in alternative medicine. 

The number of products registered with the TGA is approximately 60 000 items (including prescription drugs, OTC medicines, complementary medicines and medical devices). Only approximate data for human pharmaceutical products are shown here. 

Interview the patient to assess complementary or alternative medication use. Counsel appropriately based on indications and drug interactions. 

Do not take non-prescription medications or herbal/alternativa/complementary medicines without notifying your physician, pharmacist, and/or health care team members. 

Obtain a thorough history of prescription, non-prescription, and complementary/alternative medication use. Determine what treatments have been helpful to the patient in the past Is the patient taking any medications that may increase PD symptoms ... 

Obtain a thorough history of non-prescription and prescription drug use and complementary and alternative therapies utilized, as well as identifying medication allergies. 

CAM, complementary and alternative medications CNS, central nervous system CVA, costovertebral angle OTC, over-the-counter OUI, overflow urinary incontinence SUI, stress urinary incontinence UTI, urinary tract infection UUI, urge urinary incontinence. 

Obtain a thorough medication history, including use of prescription, non-prescription, and complementary and alternative drug products. Determine which, if any, treatments in the past had been helpful as judged by the patient. Could any of the patient s current medications be contributing to Ul ... 

A thorough patient medication history should be taken at the time of admission to document all recent medication use, including nonprescription medications and use of complementary or alternative medicines. Any drug allergies or intolerances also should be documented. 

Complementary and alternative medicines A group of practices and products that are not presently considered to be part of conventional medicine, including alternative medical systems (e.g., homeopathic medicine and naturopathic medicine), mind-body interventions (e.g., meditation and mental healing), biologically-based therapies (e.g., dietary supplements, vitamins, herbs, and other natural products), manipulative body-based methods (e.g., acupuncture and massage), and energy therapies (e.g., therapeutic touch and bioelectromagnetic-based therapies). 

This volume covers topics including cultural perspectives in psychiatric diagnosis and psychopharmacotherapy, differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of psychotropics, pharmacogenetics of ethnic populations, ethnic variations in psychotropic responses, complementary medicines in mental disorders, attitudes towards psychotropic medications, prescribing practices in Asia-Pacific countries, pharmaco-economic implications, integrating theory and practice, and... 

Patients tend to believe that medications from nature are non-toxic, non-addicted, and non-invasive. Therefore complementary medicines are usually used in common, less severe, and chronic mental disorders such as sleep disorders, neurasthenia, and anxiety disorders. It is also applied in incurable conditions, for example dementias, autism, and schizophrenia, when doctors and families have tried desperately all means and finally turned to complementary medicine as the last hope. 

Alternative medicine includes all of the approaches and techniques that until the past few years were not taught in medical schools and residencies. Alternative medicine is also referred to as complementary medicine, unconventional medicine, or holistic medicine. Some of the categories of alternative medicine... 

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