What can we learn from the public's understanding of drug information and safety? A population survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to analyse the perceptions of the public on medicine information and safety and on consumer reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions (ADR). METHODS: A voluntary survey was conducted in a population ≥18 years of age in Asturias, a region in northern Spain. The survey was designed to be completed in a face-to-face street interview or completed independently by the public. The survey consisted of structured questions organised in four sections: (1) demographic data, (2) use of medicines, (3) reading and understanding of the patient information leaflet (PIL) and (4) awareness and perception about consumer reporting of ADR. KEY FINDINGS: A total of 402 surveys were given and analysed; 295 were completed independently and 107 were completed in street interviews. Of the population surveyed, 82.3% had taken some drug(s) in the previous 3 months, although only 62.4% had performed so by medical prescription. A quarter of respondents claimed that they never read the PIL of medicines, 12.7% that they sometimes read it, and 61.4% that they always read this information. A high percentage (82.8%) of respondents reported that they were not aware of consumer reporting of ADR, and 86.1% stated their agreement with this option. CONCLUSIONS: The public has great interest in useful information about all aspects involved in the use of medicines. This includes consumer reporting of suspected ADR, which is still unknown to many people.

[Direct reporting by patients of adverse drug reactions in Spain]. / La notificación directa por los pacientes de reacciones adversas a medicamentos en España.

The Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Medicinal Products for Human Use, integrated by regional centers of pharmacovigilance coordinated by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products, is responsible for developing the Program of Spontaneous Reporting of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions in our country. Although, until now, reports were only requesting to health professionals, the current understanding of the role of patients in the clinical setting and the experience gained in other countries of our environment, have demonstrated the convenience of developing active participation systems to patients in the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions. In addition, this is taking into account in the new European legislation on pharmacovigilance.

La notificación directa por los pacientes de reacciones adversas a medicamentos en España / Direct reporting by patients of adverse drug reactions in Spain

El Sistema Español de Farmacovigilancia de medicamentos de uso humano, integrado por los centros autonómicos de farmacovigilancia coordinados por la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios, se encarga del desarrollo en nuestro país del Programa de Notificación Espontánea de Sospechas de Reacciones Adversas a Medicamentos. Aunque hasta ahora se solicitaba la notificación únicamente a los profesionales sanitarios, el entendimiento actual del papel de los pacientes en la relación clínica y la experiencia obtenida ya en otros países de nuestro entorno, han puesto de manifiesto la conveniencia de desarrollar sistemas de participación activa de los pacientes en la notificación de sospechas de reacciones adversas a medicamentos. Así lo recoge además la nueva normativa europea en materia de Farmacovigilancia (AU)

The Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Medicinal Products for Human Use, integrated by regional centers of pharmacovigilance coordinated by the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products, is responsible for developing the Program of Spontaneous Reporting of Suspected Adverse Drug Reactions in our country. Although, until now, reports were only requesting to health professionals, the current understanding of the role of patients in the clinical setting and the experience gained in other countries of our environment, have demonstrated the convenience of developing active participation systems to patients in the reporting of suspected adverse drug reactions. In addition, this is taking into account in the new European legislation on pharmacovigilance (AU)

Trends in the pharmacological treatment of osteoporosis in Spain from 2000 to 2008.

AIM: To analyze the time trends in anti-osteoporosis medications consumption in Spain between 2000 and 2008 and the influence on such consumption induced by the Information Sheets related to the safety of menopausal hormone therapy and strontium ranelate published by the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS). METHODS: Purchase data of anti-osteoporosis medications from 2000 to 2008 were obtained from the Spanish Ministry of Health. This information includes the pharmacy sales data of medicinal products reimbursed by the Spanish National Health Service. Anti-osteoporosis medications consumption data were expressed as defined daily dose per 1 000 inhabitants per day in women aged 50 or more. RESULTS: During the study period, anti-osteoporosis medications consumption showed a continuous increase. The greatest increase was observed with bisphosphonates, particularly alendronate and risedronate in their weekly formulations. Strontium ranelate consumption was low but continuously increased and new information concerning its safety in 2007 had no effect on its consumption. The use of menopausal hormone therapy remained stable until 2003, and from then presented a continuous decrease until 2008. Raloxifene utilization increased from 2000 to 2004 and decreased thereafter. Calcitonin utilization decreased uninterruptedly and teriparatide was infrequently used. CONCLUSION: This study reports a marked change in osteoporosis treatment in Spain, which includes an important increase in anti-osteoporosis medication use, particularly of bisphosphonates and a decrease in menopausal hormone therapy use secondary to the new information about their safety.

Continuous reporting of new cases in Spain supports the relationship between Herbalife® products and liver injury.

PURPOSE: Previous publications have linked Herbalife® products to hepatotoxicity. The identification of earlier cases in which the culprit agent could not be established raised the hypothesis of a possible contamination of some specific batches of Herbalife products. METHODS: We searched the Spanish Pharmacovigilance Centres' database of adverse reactions for reports of liver injury associated with the use of Herbalife products from 2003, when the first case was submitted, through September 2010. RESULTS: The search resulted in 20 reports of liver damage (mean age, 49 years; 16 women), with 12 patients (60%) requiring hospitalization. Hepatocellular damage predominated, and nine (53%) of the hepatocellular cases with bilirubin values were jaundiced, fulfilling the Hy's law criteria, which increases the risk for serious outcomes. Two patients experienced a positive rechallenge. One patient developed cirrhosis, whereas all the others recovered. Causality assessment by the Karch and Lasagna modified algorithm showed a category of definite in 1 case, probable in 14, and possible in 5. Analysis of the different Herbalife products that each patient had taken did not enable us to identify any commonly known hepatotoxic ingredient. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the relationship between the consumption of Herbalife products and hepatotoxicity, underscore the concern regarding the liver-related safety of this dietary supplement, and emphasize the need to establish further regulatory measures.