Integrative Pharmacovigilance: Monitoring Adverse Effects in Herbal, Nutraceutical, and Conventional Therapies

Abstract

Herbal teas, plant-based powders, and nutraceutical supplements are now common parts of modern treatment plans. You can find these products in most pharmacies, and they are often advertised on wellness websites, which is why so many people use them with regular medications. Even though these products are becoming more popular, many of them are not covered by strict pharmaceutical rules. Because of this, there are big holes in the records and knowledge of their possible negative effects. Patients may be at risk for unexpected health problems because there is not enough government oversight. This is especially true when these supplements are taken without a doctor's advice. To deal with this problem, it is very important to improve post-market surveillance by using integrated pharmacovigilance systems. It is also important to encourage patients and healthcare providers to talk openly about using these kinds of products. These steps can work together to make safety monitoring stronger, lower the number of avoidable bad outcomes, and raise public awareness of the risks that come with using complementary therapies that aren't regulated or used correctly.