Pharmacists the CM Experts

Pharmacists are “ideally placed” to help patients decide how best to self-medicate with complementary  medicines (CMs) according to a position statement released by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) today.  PSA’s complementary medicines position paper says CMs may be used as an adjunctive therapy with conventional medications, if there is evidence supporting their use.  National president of the PSA, Joe Demarte, said PSA was committed to supporting pharmacists help consumers make informed decisions around CMs and continued to advocate strongly for a partnership approach with consumers to promote the Quality Use of Medicines and responsible self-medication.

“This is a partnership between the pharmacist and the consumer where the pharmacist as the medicines expert can advise on the appropriate use of complementary medicines the consumer may be considering,” Demarte said.  “There is a wealth of information available about complementary medicines which can be confusing and the pharmacist can assist in ensuring that consumers are provided with the best available information about the current
evidence for efficacy, as well as information on any potential side effects, drug interactions and risks of harm.”

Demarte stressed the PSA does not support the sale of homeopathy products in pharmacy, endorsing the NHMRC report, released in March, which found there were no health conditions for which there was reliable evidence that homeopathy was effective.

Source: pharmacydaily.com.au, Thursday 10 September 2015