Adverse drug effect

This article shares the story of Diethylstilbestrol, commonly known as DES, a drug introduced in the forties to prevent miscarriage. Identifies harmful effects on daughters and sons of women who took this drug.

PharmaWatch’s blog seeks to shed light on some of the most significant policy, research, legislative and program issues related to the safety and efficacy of prescription drugs, vaccines and medical devices in Canada. They believe that the Canadian public, patients, physicians, policy analysts, researchers, academics, authors, politicians and the media have a right to know how our drug approval and monitoring system works, how it compares to other international jurisdictions, the factors influencing decision making and whether Health Canada is protecting our health and safety.

Finds that testing for safety and effectiveness of prescrption drugs in Canada takes place almost exclusively before medications are approved and that there are “few regulatory obligations once a product reaches the market.”Assesses the Canadian post-market systems of drug surveillance -  “pharmacovigilance” - and finds that there is no national system to test drugs for safety after they reach the market.

A form for consumers to report side effects to drugs and other health products to the Canada Vigilance Program. Consumers/patients can report adverse reactions (also known as side effects) to health products, including prescription and non-prescription medications, biologics, natural health products and radiopharmaceuticals using this form.

One of the series of Mythbusters information sheets that examines drug safety issues. Discusses the safety of pharmaceutical drugs after they have been approved and how drug approval does not necessarily mean a drug is fully tested or that it's effects are fully understood. Points to the need for consumers to thoroughly understand the potential benefits and harms of any drug so that they make make informed decisions about drugs they may take. Approves of the establishment of the federally-funded Drug Safety and Effectiveness Network, which will fund research on the safety and effectiveness of drugs in the “real world”.

Mythbusters is a series of two-page articles that summarize the best available evidence to challenge widely held beliefs about issues in Canadian healthcare.

A site that is operated by Public Citizen out of Washington DC. Provides a limited amount of information on each drug without having to subscribe to the service. Also produces a book which is updated periodically. Free fact sheets available on the site with such topics as “Ten Rules for Safer Drug Use.”

MedEffect, launched in 2009, is Health Canada’s initiative to make it easier for consumers, patients, and health professionals to report adverse reactions and side effects, obtain new safety information on drugs and other health products, and learn and better understand the importance of reporting side effects.

Discusses a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins and the risks to women.

Discusses a class of cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins and the risks to women.

Reviews the Evra patch and the potential for excess estrogen exposure raises concerns about the risks of adverse effects, which include nausea, breast tenderness and venous thromboembolism.