DRUG REACTIONS ‘MUST BE REPORTED’ BBC News – Health – Drug reactions ‘must be reported’. A study in 2004 found 6.5% of people admitted to hospital had experienced an adverse drug reaction, (ADR) and that in 80% of these cases the reaction was the cause of the admission. 11 May 2006

The BMA wants more adverse drug reactions to be reported

Some 250,000 patients yearly are admitted to hospital in the UK with adverse reactions to drugs at a cost of £466 million, a report suggests. Serious reactions to medicines can include sudden death, respiratory failure and heart attacks. The British Medical Association report calls on health professionals to inform regulators every time an unwanted reaction to a drug is suspected. It claims that adverse reactions are “significantly under-reported”. A study in 2004 found 6.5% of people admitted to hospital had experienced an adverse drug reaction, (ADR) and that in 80% of these cases the reaction was the cause of the admission.

When a drug is first marketed …relatively little may be known about its safety in the population at large Vivienne Nathanson, BMA Ethics and Science

It also found that 2% of patients admitted to hospital with an ADR died. The BMA wants to see reporting rates increase in a bid to protect patients’ health and save lives. Continue reading .. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4759571.stm DRUG REACTIONS ‘KILL THOUSANDS’ BBC News – Health – Drug reactions ‘kill thousands’. More than 13,000 others in the same period had an “adverse drug reaction”, but survived with hospital treatment. The MHRA has urged patients to join doctors in reporting drug reactions to them. 27 Dec 2007

More than 13,000 others in the same period had an “adverse drug reaction”, but survived with hospital treatment. The statistics, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, include damage caused by “over the counter” drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. Experts said that medicines could not be blamed for all the reported cases.

Some reactions are avoidable

Almost 3,000 people have died in the past three years after suffering serious side-effects or allergies to their medicines, say official figures.

This is a dangerously escalating problem, which is putting lives at risk and placing a big cost burden on the NHS

Norman Lamb MP, Liberal Democrats

The figures are drawn from “yellow card” scheme, run by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Authority (MHRA) to gather reports of all adverse reactions from both clinicians and patients. Last year, there were reports of 964 patients in the UK who died as a result of an adverse reaction, compared with more than 1,000 the previous year, and 861 in 2004. However, there is evidence that the vast majority of adverse drug reactions are never reported to the MHRA. Bigger problem A study published last year suggested that 6.5% of all patients admitted to hospital had experienced a reaction, and that in four out of five cases, the medicines they were taking were to blame. This adds up to as much as 250,000 cases a year – and an annual cost of £466 million to the NHS. The MHRA has urged patients to join doctors in reporting drug reactions to them. While in some cases a deadly side-effect or allergy could not have been predicted, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson has conceded that some cases should have been avoided. Continue reading .. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7161196.stm PATIENTS CAN REPORT ADVERSE REACTIONS BBC News – Health – 25 Apr 03. Patients who suffer adverse reactions to drugs will be able to report the problem to the NHS Direct helpline.

Some drugs can cause adverse reactions

It will be the first time that the public has been able to report their own experiences of adverse drug reactions. Until now, it has been down to health professionals to record problems suffered by their patients. Health Minister David Lammy announced on Friday that a pilot project would be set up at the NHS Direct call centre in Beckenham, which covers South East London. If the pilot proves successful, the scheme will be rolled out to all 22 NHS Direct call centres in England.

patients can quickly access advice and report reactions that can help to improve our knowledge of the safe use of medicines David Lammy

Mr Lammy said: “Rather than having to go to a GP, patients can quickly access advice and report reactions that can help to improve our knowledge of the safe use of medicines.” At present, adverse drug reactions are reported to the Committee on the Safety of Medicines (CSM) by health professionals under what is known as the Yellow Card scheme. The CSM is an independent committee of experts that advises government on the safety, quality and effectiveness of medicines. Continue reading .. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/2976811.stm

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