Consumption of medicinal plants by patients with heart diseases at a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic in Brazil.

Background: Medicinal plants (MP) have been used for many years with the purpose of feeding and curing. Several MP may interfere in drug response and are not always considered as potential drug-interactors in clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the consumption of MP by outpatients during a one-year follow-up.

Method: Patients with cardiopathy diagnosis and indication(s) for long-term use of warfarin were recruited at a pharmacist-managed anticoagulation clinic of a Brazilian public hospital. This research employed a descriptive method. The consumption of MP was examined regarding the type, frequency and forms of use.

Results: A total of 280 patients were studied. Most patients were female (54.6 %) with an average age of 56.8 ± 13.1 years. The consumption of MP was reported by 46 (16.4 %) patients, totalizing 59 occurrences. Lemon, lemon balm and plantain were the most common MP. The main pharmacological uses involved the digestive, urinary, and respiratory tracts. Tea was the predominant form of consumption (87 %). Twelve (33.3 %) plants presented potential herb-warfarin interactions according to the literature.

Conclusion: We described the consumption of MP among outpatients characterized by their complex disease status, propensity for adverse events, and socioeconomic limitations. These results may guide pharmacist interventions and procedures to prevent clinical complications.