Explore The Interaction Studies Chinese And Western Medicine-based Pharmaceutical Care

Objectives:It is known that there are problems in using Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCM) together with western medicines. It is, therefore, important to monitor and study the outcomes following the concurrent use of TCM together with western medicine to understand the potential problems. Our goal was to provide evidence for the proper use of TCM in combination with western medicines in order to enhance efficacy, to ensure safety and to minimize treatment related problems. We also intended, through our studies, to provide other pharmacists with some ideas in developing their monitoring systems in the use of TCM in order to improve the concurrent use of TCM in combination with western medicines.Methods:Literature: We conducted a thorough literature search to gather and review information around possible interactions between TCM and western medicines. .Monitoring and pharmaceutical care : We reviewed and analyzed therapeutic treatments provided in our hospital. Based on treatment related problems identified, proper intervention was provided as follows.1. We collected, reviewed and analyzed the reports of adverse drug reactions (ADR) from our hospital. We identified warning signs due to improper drug treatments, and provided intervention strategies to the major problems identified.2. We surveyed both outpatient and inpatient cases where TCM were used in combination with western medicines. We identified treatment related problems and provided necessary interventions. . 3. Based on the treatment related problems identified and confusions that pharmacists had with TCM, we focused on the monitoring and pharmaceutical care of three types of TCM. (1) TCM injections. (2) TCM in combination with western medicines with low therapeutic indices. (3) TCM products containing western medicine ingredients.Results:Through monitoring and providing pharmaceutical care as well as intervention, we have established safer and more effective use of TCM alone and in combination with western medicines. As a result, incidences of ADR were reduced, treatment related problems were prevented and costs were lowered. In addition, we established the monitoring and pharmaceutical care models for three types of TCM practices. Hopefully our results have provided some useful information for clinical pharmacists in their practice in the use of TCM and the proper use of TCM in combination with western medicine.Discussion:Through our research, we have established monitoring and pharmaceutical care models in the use of TCM. In addition to providing more proper clinical use of TCM in combination with western medicines, such practices were found to have improved the therapeutic outcomes and reduced ADR. Costs were found to be lowered as well. In addition, our research also helped in the more proper evaluation of safety of TCM. The three models established would help the monitoring of treatments involving TCM by pharmacists. We also provided some information on the proper use of TCM in combination with western medicines. However, our results are preliminary and more detailed studies are needed.