Drugs during lactation
Summary
Since the thalidomide scandal in the 1960s use of drugs during pregnancy and lactation has often been associated with great uncertainty, since it can affect both the mother and the breastfed child. However, the concern may mistakenly lead to nonharmful drugs being attributed harmful adverse drug reactions leading to undertreatment of the mother of unnecessary discontinuation of breastfeeding. The safety of the most commonly used drugs in lactation is in the following being discussed. Furthermore, a practical guide to risk assessment and considerations when initiating a drug treatment is presented. (Source: Advers...
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - August 1, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Drug-induced priapism
Summary
Drug-induced priapism is a rare but serious condition associated with a variety of prescribed and illicit drugs. The most common causes include antipsychotics, oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, the antidepressant trazodone, and alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists prescribed for hypertension or lower urinary tract symptoms (such as prazosin and tamsulosin). Risk factors include predisposing conditions such as sickle cell disease, spinal cord injury, and history of previous priapism. When patients present to the Emergency Department with priapism, a thorough drug history should be carried out, including use of r...
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - June 1, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Review Article Source Type: research
Drugs in pregnancy
Summary
Since the thalidomide scandal in the 1960's use of drugs in pregnancy has often been associated with great uncertainty, it can affect both the mother and the fetus. However, the concern may mistakenly lead to nonharmful drugs being attributed teratogenic effects. The drug use during pregnancy and the safety of the most commonly used drugs are in the following being discussed. Furthermore, a practical guide to risk assessment and considerations when initiating a drug treatment is presented. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - April 1, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
SUBJECT AND DRUG INDEXES TO ADVERSE DRUG REACTION BULLETIN: Nos 314-319 February 2019 - December 2019
No abstract available (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - January 31, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: INDEX Source Type: research
Apixaban-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis
Conclusion:
Apixaban-induced leukocytoclastic vasculitis is a rare but serious and important adverse reaction. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - January 31, 2020 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Cytokine release syndrome: a primer for generalists
Summary
Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is an adverse drug reaction that is poorly understood but is likely to be increasingly common as more immunotherapeutics are being developed and licensed, principally in the treatment of cancer. Early recognition and aggressive treatment of this potentially rapidly fatal systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is the key to a better outcome for this adverse drug reaction. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - December 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Drug causes of intracerebral haemorrhage
Summary
Many drugs have the potential to cause intracerebral haemorrhage. The mechanisms that underlie this association include elevation of blood pressure and increasing bleeding tendency. The consequences of intracerebral haemorrhage can be devastating for the individual, so careful risk assessment prior to drug initiation and close monitoring during treatment should be enacted when using medicines with an established association with haemorrhagic stroke. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - October 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
A review on the health hazards of anabolic steroids
Summary
In 1935, testosterone was finally isolated and synthesized, and testosterone-analogs soon entered the world of sports. Today, the use of these performance-enhancing agents is no longer confined to the elite sports milieu, and the lifetime prevalence of anabolic steroid use among men is estimated to be around 6%. Unfortunately, these drugs are not without side effects, and the most common somatic adverse drug reactions are gynaecomastia, infertility, testicular dysfunction, and acne. Furthermore, the use of AAS is associated with a variety of psychiatric disorders and antisocial behaviour. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - August 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Drug causes of ischaemic stroke
Summary
There is a wide range of drugs with the potential to cause ischaemic stroke. Whilst the absolute risk of stroke with commonly used drugs is low, a patient's background risk of stroke can increase their chance of stroke in combination with a particular drug. Careful decision-making is required when initiating and continuing treatment to ensure the risk-benefit profile of a drug is weighed appropriately on an individual patient basis. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - June 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Drug induced methaemoglobinaemia
Summary
Acquired methaemoglobinaemia can be caused by the oxidising effect of a number of different drugs. Prescribed drugs that cause methaemoglobinaemia include local anaesthetics, dapsone, sulphonamides and primaquine. Recreational drugs such as amyl and isobutyl nitrite (‘poppers’) and adulterants in cocaine are also well known to cause methaemoglobinaemia. Low concentrations of methaemoglobin do not require treatment, but higher concentrations can be fatal. When indicated, methylthioninium chloride is the treatment of choice. More complicated cases should be discussed with a local poisons centre. (Source: Advers...
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - April 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Adverse Drug Reactions, still masquerading after all these years?
Summary
In this journal in 1976, Professor Duncan Vere suggested that some adverse drug reactions could behave as “masqueraders”, sometimes evading detection for a considerable time after a medicine was introduced into clinical practice. Using contemporary examples, we illustrate why we believe the five main reasons he cited for adverse drug reactions masquerading in this manner remain just as relevant today. Although newer methods of investigation are increasingly contributing to improved surveillance, individual case reports and spontaneous reporting systems for suspected adverse drug reactions remain a cornerstone...
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - February 1, 2019 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Subject Index 2018
No abstract available (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - November 30, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: SUBJECT AND DRUG INDEXES TO ADVERSE DRUG REACTION BULLETIN Nos 308-313 February 2018 – December 2018 Source Type: research
Drug Index 2018
No abstract available (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - November 30, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: SUBJECT AND DRUG INDEXES TO ADVERSE DRUG REACTION BULLETIN Nos 308-313 February 2018 – December 2018 Source Type: research
Drug-induced Sialorrhoea
Summary
Sialorrhoea is a common adverse effect of a range of medicines, primarily clozapine. At least a third of patients treated with clozapine suffer from sialorrhoea, and the consequences of this can be socially stigmatising and lead to non-adherence. The treatment options are limited and primarily centered around muscarinic antagonism. We suggest non-pharmacological interventions followed by locally applied atropine or glycopyrrolate. If systemic treatment is necessary, amisulpride, benztropine, or terazosin may be attempted. (Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin)
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - November 30, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
Pharmacovigilance Program of India: history, evolution and current status
Summary
Unlike developed nations most of whom put into place systems of pharmacovigilance in the early 1960s following the thalidomide disaster, India's Pharmacovigilance Program formally began only in the mid-1980s. After several unsuccessful attempts, a robust program was put in place by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization in 2010 called the Pharmacovigilance Program of India. Today, this is a stable system with the Indian regulator at the helm, a formal legislation in place to support the program and a National Coordinating Center located at the Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission. In the 8 years since its res...
Source: Adverse Drug Reaction Bulletin - October 1, 2018 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Tags: Invited Review Article Source Type: research
