Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study

Background Paediatric mental health patients frequently use natural health products (NHP) in addition to prescription medications, but very little is known about adverse events and possible NHP–drug interactions.Objective To determine: (1) the prevalence of paediatric mental health patients taking p...

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Main Authors: Sunita Vohra, Liliane Zorzela, Emma Sparks, Candace Necyk, Baljit Khamba, Liana Urichuk, Joanne Barnes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2020-02-01
Series:BMJ Paediatrics Open
Online Access:https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000674.full
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author Sunita Vohra
Liliane Zorzela
Emma Sparks
Candace Necyk
Baljit Khamba
Liana Urichuk
Joanne Barnes
author_facet Sunita Vohra
Liliane Zorzela
Emma Sparks
Candace Necyk
Baljit Khamba
Liana Urichuk
Joanne Barnes
author_sort Sunita Vohra
collection DOAJ
description Background Paediatric mental health patients frequently use natural health products (NHP) in addition to prescription medications, but very little is known about adverse events and possible NHP–drug interactions.Objective To determine: (1) the prevalence of paediatric mental health patients taking prescription medications only, NHP only, both NHP and prescription medications concurrently or neither; (2) which prescription medications and NHP are most commonly used in paediatric mental health populations and (3) adverse events experienced in the last 30 days (serious and non-serious).Design Cross-sectional surveillance study.Setting Paediatric mental health clinics.Population/intervention On their first clinic visit, paediatric mental health patients were provided with a form inquiring about prescription drug use, NHP use and any undesirable event experienced in the last month.Results Of the 536 patients included in this study, 23% (n=120) reported taking only prescription medication(s), 21% (n=109) reported only NHP use, 21% (n=112) reported using both NHP and prescription drugs concurrently, and 36% (n=191) reported using neither. Overall, there were 23 adverse events reported; this represents 6.3%, 2.8%, 10.8% and 0.6% of each population, respectively. The majority of patients who experienced an adverse event reported taking more than one NHP or prescription drug. No serious adverse events were reported.Conclusion Nearly half of the paediatric mental health patients in this study were taking NHPs alone or in addition to prescription medications. Active surveillance identified multiple adverse events associated with NHP and prescription drug use; none were serious. Healthcare professionals were encouraged to initiate conversations regarding NHP use.
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spelling doaj-art-2411b992aa3540ae88e91128cc17ec6f2025-08-20T02:51:39ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Paediatrics Open2399-97722020-02-014110.1136/bmjpo-2020-000674Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional studySunita Vohra0Liliane Zorzela1Emma Sparks2Candace Necyk3Baljit Khamba4Liana Urichuk5Joanne Barnes64 Departments of Paediatrics, Medicine, and Psychiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canadaassistant clinical professorFaculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaPharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaNatruropathic Medicine, Bastyr University, San Diego, California, United StatesPhysichiatry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaSchool of Pharmacy, University of Auckland School of Education, Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandBackground Paediatric mental health patients frequently use natural health products (NHP) in addition to prescription medications, but very little is known about adverse events and possible NHP–drug interactions.Objective To determine: (1) the prevalence of paediatric mental health patients taking prescription medications only, NHP only, both NHP and prescription medications concurrently or neither; (2) which prescription medications and NHP are most commonly used in paediatric mental health populations and (3) adverse events experienced in the last 30 days (serious and non-serious).Design Cross-sectional surveillance study.Setting Paediatric mental health clinics.Population/intervention On their first clinic visit, paediatric mental health patients were provided with a form inquiring about prescription drug use, NHP use and any undesirable event experienced in the last month.Results Of the 536 patients included in this study, 23% (n=120) reported taking only prescription medication(s), 21% (n=109) reported only NHP use, 21% (n=112) reported using both NHP and prescription drugs concurrently, and 36% (n=191) reported using neither. Overall, there were 23 adverse events reported; this represents 6.3%, 2.8%, 10.8% and 0.6% of each population, respectively. The majority of patients who experienced an adverse event reported taking more than one NHP or prescription drug. No serious adverse events were reported.Conclusion Nearly half of the paediatric mental health patients in this study were taking NHPs alone or in addition to prescription medications. Active surveillance identified multiple adverse events associated with NHP and prescription drug use; none were serious. Healthcare professionals were encouraged to initiate conversations regarding NHP use.https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000674.full
spellingShingle Sunita Vohra
Liliane Zorzela
Emma Sparks
Candace Necyk
Baljit Khamba
Liana Urichuk
Joanne Barnes
Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study
BMJ Paediatrics Open
title Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study
title_full Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study
title_fullStr Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study
title_short Study of Natural products Adverse Reactions (SONAR) in children seen in mental health clinics: a cross-sectional study
title_sort study of natural products adverse reactions sonar in children seen in mental health clinics a cross sectional study
url https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/4/1/e000674.full
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