| pubmed-article:3384381 | pubmed:abstractText | Within a postmarketing drug surveillance study the incidence and relevance of ADRs leading to drug discontinuation in therapy of depressed outpatients were examined. In addition, corresponding drug prescribing patterns of patients under routine treatment conditions were recorded. It was found that most psychiatric outpatients were able to identify common ADRs and to differentiate them from the underlying illnesses and comedication. Low-dose therapy was confirmed as routine treatment in the majority of psychiatric outpatients. No differences regarding age, sex, and dosage could be found between patients with further drug intake and those who stopped their antidepressant medication because of ADRs. Such events had been recorded in 11.5% of patients with first prescriptions made by the treating physicians in a monitoring of three months. However, only 0.3% of patients on long-term therapy (that had been initiated at treatment terms preceding the monitoring period) experienced an ADR indicating a decreased risk for drug discontinuation (because of ADR) the longer the patient was on treatment. Knowing ADR(-profiles) of prescribed drugs by treating psychiatrist may aid the treatment of compliance or prevention of ADRs. | lld:pubmed |
