Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

¹ Atatürk Ãœniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Toksikoloji Anabilim Dalı ERZURUM
² Hacettepe Ãœniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Toksikoloji Anabilim Dalı ANKARA Recently, the use of herbal products has become popular among geriatric population in Turkey as well as in the World. As a result of this, reports of adverse reactions based on herbal product usage and interactions between herbal products and prescription drugs have increased. It is reported that over-the-counter and prescription drugs are uncontrolled and they are commonly used along with herbal products in geriatrics due to the chronic and multiple diseases. Additionally, geriatric patients are sensitive to untoward effects of drugs and their interactions likewise because of functional and physiological alterations in the organism by ageing. In this review, products of ginkgo biloba, St. John's wort, ginseng, kava, saw palmetto, garlic and echinacea products that are commonly used in elderly people have been evaluated from the toxicological point of view under the light of recent literature. At the same time interactions between these herbal products and drugs is also discussed. Keywords : Geriatric population, Herbal product, Fitotoxicology, Drug interaction