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The importance

of

pharmacovigilance

Before a medicine can be provided to the general public, it is rigorously tested on patients in clinical trials. However, some adverse effects of the drug may not be reported during the trial stage, and it is imperative that medicines are continuously monitored, especially when the conditions of a medical trial may not reflect those which occur in real-life situations, for example in a general practice or hospital. This process is called pharmacovigilance, and has a number of benefits. For a medicine to be deemed as safe, its benefits should outweigh any associated risk. This article explores the benefits of pharmacovigilance services, and how medicines are monitored to ensure the safety of patients and practitioners.

What is pharmacovigilance?

Medicines need to be continuously monitored in everyday practice in order to identify any adverse effects which were not recognized at the clinical trial phase, or to discover any changes in adverse effects which have already been reported. Assessing these risks is necessary to improve the safety of a medication, and to deem what action needs to be taken if a new risk is discovered. This information will often be passed onto medical professionals, as well as patients, to notify them of any side effects which have been investigated, and to ensure that all medicines are deemed safe enough for the general public. Any action that is taken will also be monitored. Here is more information about xevmpd.

Although patients who take medicines available on the market today may not experience any harmful reactions, it is important that they are provided with the necessary information about what could occur. This is usually done in the form of a patient information leaflet which will be included in the box of a medicine or written on the label. This information will need to be clear, and avoid using information which may confuse the patient, such as complicated medical terms or industry jargon, which may further complicate matters. The patient can always discuss any side effects with their general practitioner, or raise any concerns they have when they take their medication it is known as drug safety. Doctors and pharmacists may also provide this information to patients, usually in the form of a written document such as a pamphlet, or this information may be posted online.

How are medicines monitored?

In order to deem whether a medicine is safe for public use, a number of different sources are used. This can include compiling information from pharmaceutical companies if a new adverse reaction is detected, or from medical journals or literature, where an article or study may have been published about the safety concerns of a particular type of medication. Regulatory authorities may also provide information about the safety of medication, as will a number of clinical studies. The Yellow Card Scheme is an example of patients reporting any adverse reactions they have to a drug, and is monitored by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, or MHRA. Information can also be compiled from mortality and morbidity databases around the world. This information is used to investigate any reported adverse reactions to a drug through drug safety services, and any significant findings can influence legislation when it comes to selling a medication, or restrict medication from being provided to the public.

This article explores the benefits of pharmacovigilance services, and how medicines are monitored to ensure the safety of patients and practitioners. This information is used to investigate any reported adverse reactions to a drug through drug safety services, and any significant findings can influence legislation when it comes to selling a medication, or restrict medication from being provided to the public.