Arthritis Australia provide feedback on the TGA’s proposed regulatory framework for complementary medicines.
People with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions are major users of complementary medicines with around 60% of people trying a range of products in an effort to gain relief from the chronic pain and disability associated with their condition.
Unfortunately a UK review of complementary compounds taken for arthritis found that there was no or little evidence of effectiveness for more than half of the compounds reviewed. In addition, one in four of the compounds for which evidence from randomised controlled trials was available was associated with common adverse effects (both minor and serious).
For these reasons, Arthritis Australia has previously proposed that more rigorous evidence relating to safety and efficacy be required by the Therapeutic Goods Administration to support the listing of complementary medicines.