Use of alternative medications in patients with neurologic disorders

OBJECTIVE: To determine alternative medication use in a neurology clinic population and to predict patients likely to use alternative medications. DESIGN: Survey of 216 adults presenting to a university-affiliated neurology clinic. METHODS: Subjects were queried regarding diagnosis, medications, satisfaction with medications, alternative medications, and demographics. Alternative medications were defined as herbal therapies, holistic therapies, minerals, or vitamins other than multiple vitamins. Frequencies were tabulated for categorical data; means and standard deviations were calculated for continuous data. Logistic regression was performed to predict use of alternative therapies. RESULTS: The most frequent conditions seen in all subjects were headache, epilepsy, and stroke. Mean ratings of patients' satisfaction with their conventional medications and health were 6.8 ± 2.64 and 6.4 ± 2.23 on a 10-point scale, respectively. Forty subjects were taking alternative therapies. Regression analysis suggests that patients with higher levels of education are more likely to use alternative therapies. CONCLUSIONS: Forty of 216 subjects (18.5%) seen in the neurology clinic took alternative therapies. Increased educational level was associated with use of alternative therapies.