Prevalence and Pattern of Concurrent Use of Herbal and Orthodox Medicines Among Hypertensive Patients in University of Benin Teaching Hospital

Concurrent use of herbal and orthodox medicines, particularly among patients with chronic non-communicable diseases, carries significant risks of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions that may compromise therapeutic outcomes. This study determines the prevalence and pattern of concurrent herbal and orthodox medicine use among hypertensive patients attending the cardiology outpatient clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Edo State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 250 hypertensive patients attending the clinic over a six-month period. Data collected included socio-demographics, prescribed antihypertensive regimen, type and frequency of herbal preparations used, and reasons for concurrent use. Sixty-one percent of respondents reported using herbal preparations alongside prescribed antihypertensive medications. Hibiscus sabdariffa, Allium sativum, and Ocimum gratissimum decoctions were the most commonly consumed herbs. Only 29% of concurrent users disclosed herbal use to their physician. Female gender, lower educational attainment, and rural origin were associated with higher likelihood of non-disclosure. Several herb-drug interaction risks were identified including potential additive hypotensive effects from Hibiscus sabdariffa with amlodipine. These findings recommend mandatory herb-drug interaction screening in clinical pharmacognosy practice and call for standardised documentation of herbal medicine use in hospital patient records at UBTH. Keywords: herb-drug interaction, hypertension, concurrent use, UBTH, Edo State