Oscillococcinum leading to angioedema, a rare adverse event

Oscillococcinum is an alternative medicine prepared by serial dilution of wild duck heart and liver extracts. This preparation has been labelled as a ‘non drowsy, homoeopathic medicine’ that ‘reduces the duration and severity of flu and flu-like symptoms’. Clinical evidence exists to support this cl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inBMJ case reports Vol. 2015; p. bcr2015210410
Main Authors Azmi, Yusra, Rao, Mana, Verma, Isha, Agrawal, Abhinav
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 02.06.2015
BMJ Publishing Group
SeriesCase Report
Subjects
Adult
Angioedema
Angioedema - chemically induced
Angioedema - drug therapy
Animals
Ducks
Emergency medical care
Homeopathy - adverse effects
Humans
Illnesses
Influenza
Influenza, Human - drug therapy
Male
Medicine
Tissue Extracts - adverse effects
Tongue
Treatment Outcome
Unexpected Outcome (Positive or Negative) Including Adverse Drug Reactions
USA/Canada
White
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Summary:Oscillococcinum is an alternative medicine prepared by serial dilution of wild duck heart and liver extracts. This preparation has been labelled as a ‘non drowsy, homoeopathic medicine’ that ‘reduces the duration and severity of flu and flu-like symptoms’. Clinical evidence exists to support this claim and the product has not previously been reported to cause any serious adverse drug reactions. We bring to light, however, a case of angioedema in our patient who was using oscillococcinum for flu-like symptoms. Consumers must therefore exercise caution at the outset of allergy symptoms.
ISSN:1757-790X
1757-790X
DOI:10.1136/bcr-2015-210410