The Adverse Effect Reporting for the Most Commonly Used Antibiotics
Nehad J. Ahmed *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
Mohammed I. Fouda
Department of Signal Detection Section, Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Dina I. Fouda
Pediatric Clinical Pharmacy, King Saud Medical City, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ahmed I. Foudah
Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Antibiotics save lives, but the excess use of antibiotics leads to more side effects. Patients benefit from medications but also complain about their adverse effects. This study aims to explore the reports of the adverse effects for the most commonly used antibiotics in Saudi Arabia.
Methodology: The Data regarding the adverse events reports were collected from The National Pharmacovigilance Center in Saudi Arabia. The data include the major allergic reactions and gastrointestinal side effects for the most commonly used antibiotic classes.
Results: The total number of allergic and gastrointestinal adverse effects in 2017 and 2018 for the included antibiotic drugs is 583 reports. The majority of the reports were for penicillin antibiotics (39.96) particularly Amoxicillin/Clavunate.
Conclusion: The most common adverse effects of antibiotics are allergic and gastrointestinal effects. It is important to report any adverse drug reactions either by health care providers or patients to the Saudi Pharmacovigilance Center.
Keywords: Adverse effect, side effects, reporting, antibiotics, antimicrobial