Adverse drug reactions to self‐medication: a study in a pharmacovigilance database. (24th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Berreni, Aurélia; Montastruc, François; Bondon‐Guitton, Emmanuelle; Rousseau, Vanessa; Abadie, Delphine; Durrieu, Geneviève; Chebane, Leila; Giroud, Jean‐Paul; Bagheri, Haleh; Montastruc, Jean‐Louis
• Is Part Of: Fundamental & clinical pharmacology. Volume 29:Number 5(2015)
• Page Start: 517
• Page End: 520
• Publication Date: 2015-08-24
• Subjects: adverse drug reactions -- analgesics -- benzodiazepines -- nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory agents -- pharmacovigilance -- self‐medication; Pharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1111/fcp.12140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0767-3981

Abstract

Abstract: Although self‐medication is widely developed, there are few detailed data about its adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This study investigated the main characteristics of ADRs with self‐medication recorded in the Midi‐Pyrénées PharmacoVigilance between 2008 and 2014. Self‐medication included first OTC drugs and second formerly prescribed drugs later used without medical advice (reuse of previously prescribed drugs). Among the 12 365 notifications recorded, 160 (1.3%) were related to SM with 186 drugs. Around three‐forth of the ADRs were 'serious'. Mean age was 48.8 years with 56.3% females. The most frequent ADRs were gastrointestinal and neuropsychiatric and main drug classes involved NSAIDs, analgesics, and benzodiazepines. Phytotherapy–homeopathy accounted for 9.1% of drugs.