Leucemia

CHAPTER 4 NURSING PROCESS IN DRUG THERAPY

TABLE 4–1

55

Herbal and Dietary Supplements

Name

Characteristics

Uses

Remarks

Black cohosh

• Thought to relieve menopausal
symptoms by suppressing the release of luteinizing hormone (LH)
from the pituitary gland and dysmenorrhea by relaxing uterine muscle
• Well tolerated; may cause occasional stomach upset. In overdose
maycause nausea, vomiting,
dizziness, visual disturbances,
and reduced pulse rate
• Most clinical trials done with Remefemin, in small numbers of women;
other trade names include Estroven
and Femtrol

• Most often used to relieve symptoms of menopause (eg, flushes,
vaginal dryness, irritability)
• May also relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and dysmenorrhea

Capsaicin
(see Chap. 6)

•Derived from cayenne pepper
• Pain with first application
• Adverse effects include skin irritation, itching, redness, and stinging

Chamomile

• Usually ingested as a tea
• May cause contact dermatitis
• May cause severe hypersensitivity
reactions, including anaphylaxis, in
people allergic to ragweed, asters,
and chrysanthemums
• May delay absorption of oral
medications
• May increaserisks of bleeding
(contains coumarins, the substances from which warfarin, an
oral anticoagulant, is derived)
• Derived from the trachea cartilage
of cattle slaughtered for food
• Usually taken with glucosamine
• Adverse effects minor, may include
GI upset, nausea, and headache
• An amino acid produced in liver and
kidneys and stored in muscles
• Causes weight gain, usually within
2weeks of starting use
• Legal and available in health food
stores as a powder to be mixed
with water or juice, a liquid, as
tablets and capsules
• Many species but E. purpurea most
often used medicinally
• Effects on immune system include
stimulation of phagocytes and
monocytes
• Contraindicated in persons with immune system disorders because
stimulation of the immune system
mayaggravate autoimmune
disorders
• Hepatotoxic with long-term use

• Capsaicin is a topical analgesic that
may inhibit the synthesis, transport,
and release of substance P, a
peripheral neurotransmitter of pain.
• Used to treat pain associated with
neuralgia, neuropathy, and osteoarthritis.
• Self-defense as the active ingredient in “pepper spray”
• Used mainly for antispasmodic
effects in thegastrointestinal (GI)
tract; may relieve abdominal
cramping

• No apparent advantage over traditional estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
• May be useful when ERT is contraindicated for a client or the client
refuses ERT
• Recommended dose is 1 tab standardized to contain 20 mg of herbal
drug, twice daily
• Not recommended for use longer
than 6 months because long-term
effects are unknown• Apparently has no effect on
endometrium, so progesterone
not needed in women with an
intact uterus
Applied topically

Chondroitin
(see Chap. 7)

Creatine

Echinacea

Few studies and little data to support
use and effectiveness in GI disorders

Arthritis

Several studies support use

• Athletes take creatine supplements
to gain extra energy, to train longer
and harder, andimprove performance

• Not recommended for use by children because studies have not
been done and effects in children
are unknown
• Nurses and parents need to actively
discourage children and adolescents
from using creatine supplements

• Most often used for the common
cold, but also advertised for many
other uses (immune system stimulant, anti-infective)

• Hard to interpretvalidity of medicinal claims because various combinations of species and preparations
used in reported studies
• A few studies support use in common cold, with reports of shorter
durations and possibly decreased
severity of symptoms

(continued )

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SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION TO DRUG THERAPY

TABLE 4–1

Herbal and Dietary Supplements (continued )

Name

Characteristics

Uses...