Doctors urged to report adverse drug reactions

Doctors have been urged to report adverse drug reactions (ADR) in patients, after a report suggested that at least a quarter of a million patients are admitted to hospital suffering such reactions each year.

The report, by the British Medical Association, said that the cost of dealing with patients suffering ADRs is estimated to cost around £466 million per year.

The report urged doctors to inform the regulatory agency when a medication has an unwanted effect.

An ADR is an unwanted or harmful reaction experienced following the administration of a drug or combination of drugs, and is suspected to be related to the drug. The reaction can be a known side effect, but may also be new and previously unrecognised.

Serious reactions to medications can include sudden death, respiratory failure and heart attacks.

The BMA said that the reporting of ADRs had identified major safety issues. For example, in 2003, the sale of the herbal drug kava kava was withdrawn in the UK because it can cause liver damage.

The report said that ADRs continue to be significantly under-reported in the UK and said that an increase in reporting rates would help to protect health and save lives.

The BMA said that all health professional should use the Yellow Card Scheme to report ADRs directly to the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency. All reactions should be reported, including reactions to "Black Triangle" medicines (drugs that are under intensive monitoring) and reactions experienced by children, as well as reactions from non-prescription herbal remedies or drugs that have purchased via the internet.

Patients can also report suspected ADRs via the Yellow Card Scheme.

The report made a series of recommendations, including healthcare professionals asking patients which medications they are taking, including over the counter or herbal remedies, in order to prevent reactions.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, Head of BMA Ethics and Science, said: "Doctors have a professional duty to report all adverse drug reactions, especially if children or the elderly are involved. Unfortunately, too many health professionals are confused about reporting procedures. Doctors must make sure they report any suspected ADR and at the same time increase awareness among their patients about the reporting process.

"Clinical trials have limitations and when a drug is first marketed, its effectiveness may well be understood but relatively little may be known about its safety in the population at large."

(KMcA)