Table 5.

Confirmed adverse reactions to anthroposophic medications.

Patient No. 15: A woman aged 39 with bronchopneumonia (including severe cough, very severe hemoptysis, moderate shortness of breath, moderate expiratory wheezing, severe sputum expectoration, moderate pain with coughing or breathing, severe discomfort, and fever < 39.5 °C) was treated with three AMED (Pneumodoron® 1 Liquid 10 drops hourly, Pneumodoron® 2 Liquid 10 drops hourly, Tabulettae calcarea cum ferro three times daily) and quark compresses twice daily. The first two subsequent nights she experienced severe sleeplessness which subsided after she stopped taking Pneumodoron® 2 at night. Another possible explanation for this AE is severe illness present at study entry. She has however taken Pneumodoron® 2 once after the study upon which she experienced sleeplessness which again subsided after stopping taking Pneumodoron® 2 at night. Pneumodoron® 2 (10 g = 11.1 ml contains: Phosphorus D4 1 g, Tartarus stibiatus D2 1g) was classified as the most probable cause of the AE but her bronchopneumonia may have contributed to the intensity of the AE. According to the manufacturer’s information, this AE can be expected from Pneumodoron® 2 in sensitive individuals, but has not been previously reported.

Patient No. 16: A 14-year old boy with acute tonsillitis was treated with daily subcutaneous injections of Prunus spinosa, Summitates 5% and three further AMED and developed mild swelling and redness at the injection site. The reaction was observed after the first injection and subsided after subsequent dose reduction of Prunus (the dose of the other three AMED was not reduced). This ADR has not been reported to the manufacturer previously, but has been observed repeatedly in other patients by the boy’s physician.