Herbal medicines, ADRs

Barnes J, Mills SY, Abbot NC, Willoughby M, Ernst E. Different standards for reporting ADR to herbal remedies and conventional OTC medicines. Br J Clin Pharmacol 45 496-500, 1998. 

The Yellow Card Scheme, at first restricted to receive reports from doctors, dentists and coroners, has been gradually expanded to receive reports from other sources. From October 1996, the Scheme was extended to include reporting of suspected adverse reactions to unlicensed herbal remedies. In April 1997, the Yellow Card Scheme was further extended to include hospital pharmacists as recognised reporters of suspected ADRs. In addition, there are specially targeted extensions of the Scheme such as adverse reactions to HIV medicines and adverse reactions in children. Over the period, the Scheme has been gradually extended further to receive reports from community pharmacists and in October 2002, from nurses, midwives and health visitors. 

---