Research Keyword: pharmacovigilance

When Nature Meets Oncology: Unraveling Herb–Drug Interactions in Cancer Therapy

Many cancer patients use herbal supplements and natural products alongside their cancer treatments without telling their doctors, which can be dangerous. Some natural products like St. John’s Wort and grapefruit juice significantly alter how the body processes cancer medications, potentially making treatments ineffective or toxic. The review provides guidance on which natural products are safe to use with cancer therapy and which should be avoided completely, emphasizing the importance of open communication between patients and healthcare providers.

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Psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy: The need to monitor adverse events

While psychedelics show promise for treating depression and other mental health conditions, researchers need better systems to monitor and report any harmful effects they might cause. This paper calls for more careful, consistent tracking of both physical changes (like blood pressure) and psychological experiences during psychedelic therapy. The authors emphasize that safety monitoring should continue even after patients leave the clinic and that women may experience different side effects than men.

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Nutrivigilance: the road less traveled

This paper discusses nutrivigilance, which is the monitoring of side effects from dietary supplements and health products. Unlike medicines, dietary supplements in the US don’t need approval before being sold to consumers. The paper explains what nutraceuticals are, how they’re classified, and the different ways the US and Europe try to keep track of harmful effects. The authors argue that better systems are needed, including more reporting from consumers and better communication between companies, regulators, and healthcare providers.

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