ADVERSE DRUG REACTION MONITORING OF DRUGS USED IN THE TREATMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC ILLNESS IN A TERTIARY CARE INSTITUTION

Abstract

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to psychotropic drugs are common. There are very few reports of ADR prole of psychotropic drugs. Pharmacovigilance of psychotropic drugs is essential to improve patient care and create awareness among physicians. Objective: To study the pattern of ADRs among patients in the OPD of Psychiatry of Tertiary Care Hospital. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital and all the patients who developed ADR to atypical antipyschotics and antidepressant drugs formed the study population. Details were documented from OPD prescription slips and lled in ADR reporting form and Causality assessment was done based on WHO Causality scale. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis. Results: During the study period, 100 patients developed a total of 180 ADRs. Based on causality assessment in these cases as per WHO Causality scale, most were judged as probable, followed by possible and then certain. The most common ADRs observed were extrapyramidal symptoms. Antipsychotics are the most common group of drugs found responsible for most of the ADRs; olanzapine being the individual drug which caused the maximum number of ADRs. Conclusion: Active surveillance from the part of clinicians and pharmacologists will help build a database for ADRs in Indian setting.