SOME FACTS ABOUT SIDE EFFECTS

Side effects are medically called as adverse drug reactions. Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is defined by World Health Organisation as a response to a drug which is noxious and unintended, and which occurs at doses normally used in man for the prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of disease, or for the modifications of physiological function. Side effects are an important cause of health problems and deaths throughout World. An article in a medical journal ranked side effects among the first six causes of deaths in USA. These are property of medicine and should not be considered a mistake of doctor unless he made a wrong diagnosis or prescribed wrong medicine for the condition.

Side effects are unintended and harmful consequences of medicine intake. The process of monitoring and reporting of side effects has been standardized internationally as pharmacovigilance by WHO. All national centres collaborate in the WHO Programme for Drug Monitoring, to collect reports of side effects and send them to the Uppsala Monitoring Centre for entry into the WHO database. UMC continually monitor and analyze the VigiBase for possible signals and alerts for previously unrecognised side effects. Patients can report the side effects to health care workers like pharmacists, nurses, doctors who can report them to pharmacovigilance units nearby.

Side effect profiles differ from country to country owing to differences in genetics, traditions of populations, public health needs and medical practices. A national pharmacovigilance centre needs to work together with other parties including the local drug regulatory authority, health professionals, academia, governments, pharmaceutical industry and consumers.

The cost for treating a single ADR in India and US is INR 690 and US $ 2500 respectively. Many factors play a crucial role in the occurrence of side effects, including age, gender, race, pregnancy, breast feeding, kidney problems, liver function, and many other factors. These factors enable medical practitioners to choose the best drug, dose and frequency of drug regimen.

The present studies show female gender predominance over males for ADRs. However, no single risk factor could be identified to cause it. A higher percentage of side effects occur in adult population (19-60 years). However children and older adults are more vulnerable to side effects.

Majority of the ADRs in this hospital are reported by psychiatry or skin department. Most ADRs occur due to antidepressant drugs or antibiotics probably due to their excessive use. Majority of the ADRs involve the central nervous system or skin.

Most of the ADRs are expected and mild. However some could be serious and even fatal. Majority of side effects are preventable. Knowledge about drugs and background patient information can help to prevent easily preventable adverse drug reactions. Doctors should be aware of adverse effects of drugs at an early stage to prevent severe adverse drug reactions at a late stage. Ask A Doctor online if any medicine or supplement is suitable for you.