Prescription
Medications &
Complementary
Alternative
Medications (CAMs)
Samantha L.
Hunter
Purdue University
Global
Patient Mr. NX ■ Past
... [Show More] Medical History
– Type 2 Diabetes
– High Blood Pressure
– Recurrent DVTs
– Anxiety
■ Current Prescribed Medications
– Glyburide 3 mg daily with breakfast
– Lisinopril 20 mg daily
– Coumadin 5 mg daily
■ Current Complementary Alternative
Medications
– Creatine – for muscle building
– Coenzyme Q10 – for antioxidant therapy
– Kava Kava – for anxiety
– Garlic – for high blood pressure
Mr. NX is a 35-year-old male
who presents to the clinic
complaining of lower back
pain and overall not feeling
well. He recently started a
new workout program, as
well as taking creatine and
coenzyme Q10.
Complementary
Alternative Medicine
Complementary
Medicine –
treatments that
are used along
with standard
medical
treatments but are
not considered to
be standard
treatments
Alternative
Medicine –
treatments that
are used instead
of standard
medical
treatments
Complementary Alternative
Medicine (CAM)
■ CAM therapies include a wide variety of botanicals
and nutritional products, such as dietary
supplements, herbal supplements, and vitamins
■ Although many of these natural therapies are
often considered safe, they may be risky to
individuals already taking prescription
medications
■ The combination of prescription medications and
herbal supplements, dietary supplements, and
vitamins places patients at increased risk of
possible herb-drug interactions
Complementary Alternative Medicine
(CAM) Continued...
■ According to another survey, 44% percent of all Americans take at
least 1 prescription medication, and 17% take 3 or more medications
■ According to a previously conducted government survey,
approximately 38% of Americans, over the age of 18, are using some
form of CAM therapies
– Many individuals who are using CAM therapies do not report
usage to their healthcare provider
■ Therefore, as healthcare providers, it is crucial to ask for an up-to-date
medication list at each clinic visit, both pre [Show Less]