In order to safeguard the existence of anthroposophic medicines (anthroposophic medicinal products, AMPs) on the market, there is a need for data on their clinical safety. A very large analysis of use and safety of AMPs in the EvaMed pharmacovigilance network has now been published by researchers of the European Scientific Cooperative on AMPs (ESCAMP) in collaboration with the Research Institute Havelhöhe, Berlin.
Compared to previous publications from EvaMed, this is the first safety analysis focusing on the entire group of AMPs; it also covers a longer documentation period (10 years, 2001-2010). With more than 300,000 AMP prescriptions to over 44,000 outpatients, this is by far the largest prospective study of anthroposophic treatment worldwide.
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to AMPs were rare (one ADR in 0.071% of prescriptions), ADR of severe intensity were very rare (0.002% of prescriptions), as were serious ADR (0.0003%, one serious ADR in 311,731 prescriptions). Similar results were found in subgroups (e.g. mistletoe or other injectables, AMP use among children).
Thus, in this analysis from a very large sample, anthroposophic medication therapy was a safe treatment.