What boomers need to know about prescription drugs: How to file reports about adverse drug reactions

I’ve had more than a dozen allergic reactions to medications, mostly antibiotics. One reaction resulted in a ride to the emergency room in an ambulance. However, I’ve never filed a complaint about my reactions.

Why? I’m used to filing complaints about money or services and hadn’t made the connection until now that information about adverse drug reactions should be reported.

How do you file an adverse drug reaction report?

For information on how to file a report with the federal Food and Drug Administration, you can go to its MedWatch Web page.

To file a report on a vaccine, use the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

Pharmaceutical side effects are one of the top five causes of death in this country, according to Charles Bennett, M.D., who leads a team of doctors called RADAR (Research on Adverse Drug Events and Reports) based at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.

Reports on adverse drug reactions reported to the FDA and deaths caused by drugs more than doubled between 1998 and 2005, according to a report by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices.

Between 1998 and 2005, 467,809 serious adverse events were reported. The number of reports increased 2.6 times annually during those years. By 2005 adverse reports had climbed to 89,842, up from 34,966 in 1998.

In 2005, 15,107 deaths occurred from drug reactions, up from 5,519 in 1998.

There are probably many adverse drug events that aren’t reported.

See “Reports of Adverse Drug Effects Up” for information on the drugs most commonly identified in fatal events and the drugs most commonly identified in disability or serious outcomes. The article discusses why drug reactions are up. Some reasons include the use of biotechnology drugs, drugs and products developed through genetic engineering, and painkillers.

See the article “Prescription Drug Reactions: How Common Are They?” for a listing of possible side effects from prescription drugs.

Also talking with your pharmacist about possible side effects can help you avoid problems.

Chart: FDA (Direct indicates reports from consumers and other categories are types of reports from manufacturers.)

Disclaimer: This information is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It isn’t intended to replace proper medical treatment. No one should ever begin or stop taking any prescription drug without consulting his or her health care provider.