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Drug Safety
Published in: Drug Safety 12/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Short Communication

Frequency and Severity of Adverse Drug Reactions Due to Self-Medication: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Survey in Emergency Departments

Authors: Nathalie Asseray, Françoise Ballereau, Béatrice Trombert-Paviot, Jacques Bouget, Nadine Foucher, Bertrand Renaud, Lucien Roulet, Gerald Kierzek, Aurore Armand-Perroux, Gilles Potel, Jeannot Schmidt, Françoise Carpentier, Patrice Queneau

Published in: Drug Safety | Issue 12/2013

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Abstract

Background

Little is known about the relation of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to self-use of medications.

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and severity of ADRs related to self-medication (ADR-SM) among emergency department (ED) patients and to describe their main characteristics.

Methods

A prospective, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted over a period of 8 weeks (1 March to 20 April 2010), in the ED of 11 French academic hospitals. Adult patients presenting to the ED during randomization periods were included, with the exception of cases of self-drug poisoning, inability to complete self-medication questionnaire, or refusal. Clinical outcomes were assessed as well as history of self-medication behaviours and all drugs taken. All doubtful files and those related to ADR-SM were systematically reviewed by an expert committee.

Results

A total of 3,027 of 4,661 patients presenting to the ED met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 84.4 % declared a self-medication behaviour, 63.7 % took at least one non-prescribed drug during the previous 2 weeks and 59.9 % took a prescribed medication. A total of 296 patients experienced an ADR (9.78 %), of which 52 (1.72 %) were related to self-medication. Those ADRs related to self-medication included prescribed drugs (n = 19), non-prescribed drugs (n = 17), treatment discontinuation (n = 14), and interactions between non-prescribed and prescribed drugs (n = 2). The ADRs attributed to non-prescribed drugs represented 1 % of all patients taking non-prescribed drugs (n = 1,927). ADR severity was significantly lower for those related to self-medication (p = .032).

Conclusion

Self-medication is frequent; its potential toxicity should not be neglected, taking into account the rate of adverse drug reactions in about 1 % of ED patient.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Frequency and Severity of Adverse Drug Reactions Due to Self-Medication: A Cross-Sectional Multicentre Survey in Emergency Departments
Authors
Nathalie Asseray
Françoise Ballereau
Béatrice Trombert-Paviot
Jacques Bouget
Nadine Foucher
Bertrand Renaud
Lucien Roulet
Gerald Kierzek
Aurore Armand-Perroux
Gilles Potel
Jeannot Schmidt
Françoise Carpentier
Patrice Queneau
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Drug Safety / Issue 12/2013
Print ISSN: 0114-5916
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1942
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40264-013-0114-y

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