Adverse drug reactions to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, COX-2 inhibitors and paracetamol in a paediatric hospital.

Abstract

AIMS: The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in children has rapidly escalated over the last 5 years in Australia. This is primarily as a result of the availability of ibuprofen as an over-the-counter preparation. Several recent, significant adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to NSAIDs, at the Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) in Melbourne, Australia prompted review of all of the RCH reactions reported to these agents over 5 years. METHODS: The ADR programme documents both spontaneously reported ADRs and ADRs identified by discharge coding. For this study, reported reactions to aspirin, celecoxib, ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, paracetamol and rofecoxib, for the previous 5-yea..