Discusses the importance of an effective post-market surveillance system of therapeutic drugs. Lists problems with the current system, and argues that improvements will only occur when there is greater consumer involvement.
Chronicles the sixty-year attempt to "cure" menopause with female hormones and the forty-year history of chemical contraception. Details the list of medical and epidemiological studies that show estrogen to be a potential carcinogen.
Works to highlight and validate consumer experiences and heighten consumer involvement in adverse drug reaction reporting. Aims to facilitate networking among individual patients/consumers and advocacy groups who share our concerns about the lack of adequate post-market monitoring by the pharmaceutical industry and Health Canada. Also aims to raise public awareness about the role of consumers/patients in reporting their own adverse drug reactions - or those experienced by their children, a spouse, a brother or sister, or a parent. Teaches people how to report an ADR, how to encourage others to report, and what role ADR reporting has played or can play to help ensure the medicine we take is right for us.
Argues that if trials done by pharmaceutical companies for licensing purposes had to include adequate data on harms and ineffectiveness the medical community could learn much more quickly what they need to know about new drugs. Contends that the risks of hormone replacement therapy would have been revealed much earlier if better use had been made of existing evidence, and as such, women have been needlessly exposed to an increased risk of heart disease.
Provides a searchable database that holds information from all adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports currently held in Health Canada's CADRIS (Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction Information System) database, which monitors adverse drug reactions in drugs approved for the Canadian market.
Explains why PharmaWatch and Women and Health Protection are calling on Health Canada to establish a more effective system for reporting and monitoring adverse drug reactions.
Provides a newsletter that contains adverse reaction information and is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October of each year. Alerts health professionals to potential signals detected through the review of case reports submitted to Health Canada, and also disseminates information on suspected adverse reactions to health products occurring in humans before comprehensive risk-benefit evaluations and regulatory decisions are undertaken.
Explains that unexpected serious reactions often turn up after a drug appears on the market and that it can take years of use before doctors discover serious drug toxicity.
Discusses an article regarding important safety concerns on the use of cyproterone acetate (marketed as Diane-35 in Canada, and as Dianette in the United Kingdom).
