Use of complementary and alternative medicine and drug abuse in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasing in last years. Studies performed out of Spain have reported rates of CAM use of 40-50% among IBD patients. There are no available data on drug abuse among IBD patients. The aims of our study were to evaluate the rate and associate factors of CAM use and drug abuse among Spanish IBD patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Anonymous, structured questionnaire, administered to consecutive patients with IBD of at least 2 years of duration, seen in a IBD outpatient clinic. RESULTS: Twenty-six per cent of the 214 included patients reported having used CAM. No associated factors were found, although patients with ulcerative colitis tended to a higher rate of CAM use. Ten per cent of patients admitted to consume drugs, mainly cannabis derivatives. Younger age and college and universitary degree were the only factors associated to cannabis consumption. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of CAM use in IBD patients from a Spanish referral centre is lower than those described in other countries. About 10% of IBD patients consume cannabis, but only one third of them inform their physician about it.