National surveillance of herbal dietary supplement exposures: the poison control center experience

Brian M Gryzlak; Robert B Wallace; M Bridget Zimmerman; Nicole L Nisly

doi:10.1002/pds.1445

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National surveillance of herbal dietary supplement exposures: the poison control center experience

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

National surveillance of herbal dietary supplement exposures: the poison control center experience

Brian M Gryzlak, Robert B Wallace, M Bridget Zimmerman and Nicole L Nisly

Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety, Vol.16(9), pp.947-957

09/2007

DOI: 10.1002/pds.1445

PMCID: PMC2265591

PMID: 17613175

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http://doi.org/10.1002/pds.1445View

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Abstract

The purpose of this report is to characterize reports to poison control centers (PCCs) involving two widely used herbal dietary supplements (HDSs), Echinacea, and St. John's wort (SJW). We purchased data from the American Association of Poison Control Center's (AAPCC) toxic exposure surveillance system (TESS(R)) on reports made to PCCs in 2001 involving Echinacea or SJW. Analyses were limited to those cases in which Echinacea or SJW were the only associated products, and in which these HDSs were deemed primary to observed adverse effects. Descriptive statistics were generated for selected demographic and exposure-related variables. During 2001, PCCs were contacted regarding 406 exposures involving Echinacea and 356 exposures involving SJW. Most of the reported exposures for both HDSs occurred among children 5 years and younger, and the majority of exposures were coded as unintentional. For both HDSs, exposures among patients >/=20 years old were more likely to be associated with adverse effects. Intentional exposures accounted for 21% of SJW cases and 3% of Echinacea cases, with 13% of SJW exposures reported as 'suspected suicidal'. TESS represents a potentially important means of assessing and characterizing HDS-related adverse effects. Detailed studies validating the clinical events and outcomes of a sample of exposures reported to TESS(R) might offer substantial insights into adverse events (AEs) that could be systematically studied with other, established pharmacoepidemiological study designs.

Product Surveillance, Postmarketing - statistics & numerical data

United States - epidemiology

Humans

Suicide, Attempted - statistics & numerical data

Child, Preschool

Male

Product Surveillance, Postmarketing - economics

Dietary Supplements - statistics & numerical data

Phytotherapy - adverse effects

Time Factors

Adult

Female

Product Surveillance, Postmarketing - methods

Dietary Supplements - adverse effects

Child

Phytotherapy - statistics & numerical data

Hypericum - adverse effects

Poison Control Centers - statistics & numerical data

Databases, Factual - statistics & numerical data

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - etiology

Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions - epidemiology

Dietary Supplements - economics

Drug Therapy - standards

Drug Therapy - methods

Adolescent

Phytotherapy - economics

Echinacea - adverse effects

Echinacea - classification

Details

Title: Subtitle: National surveillance of herbal dietary supplement exposures: the poison control center experience
Creators: Brian M Gryzlak - Department of Epidemiology, University of Iowa, IA, USA
Robert B Wallace
M Bridget Zimmerman
Nicole L Nisly
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety, Vol.16(9), pp.947-957
DOI: 10.1002/pds.1445
PMID: 17613175
PMCID: PMC2265591
NLM abbreviation: Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf
ISSN: 1053-8569
eISSN: 1099-1557
Publisher: England
Grant note: P01 ES012020-05 / NIEHS NIH HHS P50 AT004155 / NCCIH NIH HHS P01 ES012020 / NIEHS NIH HHS 9 P50 AT004155-06 / NCCIH NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 09/2007
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Biostatistics; Gender, Women's and Sexuality Studies; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9983997467302771

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