Adverse drug reactions: Can consumers provide early warning?

Abstract

In order to investigate the potential value of a drug monitoring system based on consumer reports we asked community pharmacists to distribute previously validated event report forms to users of two popular non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), piroxicam and diclofenac, in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. Although response rates were low, comparisons of replies from NSAID users and drug‐free subjects in the community identified a range of established symptomatic reactions from NSAIDs affecting the gastrointestinal tract, central nervous system and lower urinary tract. In comparison, analysis of adverse reaction reports from health professionals revealed a tendency t..