Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee

In a review of reports to the Australian Adverse Drugs Reactions Advisory Committee between 1985 and 2001 there were 48 cases of lactic acidosis with metformin (86). In 35 of the 48 cases known susceptibility factors were identified. The estimated frequency was one case of lactic acidosis in 30 000 patients taking metformin. The authors... 

The basis for this anaphylactic reaction was hypersensitivity to Echinacea, confirmed by skin prick and RAST testing. However, others have challenged the notion of a causal relation in this case (28). Nevertheless, the author affirmed his belief that Echinacea was the causal agent and reported that at that time Echinacea accounted for 22 of 266 suspected adverse reactions to complementary medicines reported to the Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee (28). 

Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee. Beta-blockers. Med J Aust 1980 2 130. 

The Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee has also received 12 reports of pure red cell aplasia associated with the use of epoetin alfa (Eprex) in patients with renal insufficiency (86). The patients were aged 28-76 years and the duration of epoetin alfa use, when known, was 4—13 months. 

Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee... 

The Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee received 11 reports of adverse reactions associated with echinacea use between July 1996 and September 1997. There were three reports of hepatitis, three of asthma, one of rash, myalgia, and nausea, one of utricaria and one of anaphylaxis. There are other published reports of echinacea associated with contact dermatitis and anaphylaxis. ... 

In 2002,28 of 129 reports to the Australian Adverse Drug Reactions Advisory Committee of acute renal failure were associated with the combined use of ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor antagonists. 

The Australian Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee has stated that tramadol may cause the serotonin syndrome, particularly when it is used at high doses or in combination with other drugs increasing serotonin le vel s of 20 reported cases of the serotonin syndrome associated with tramadol, 16 were taking potentially interacting medicines including SSRIs. Cases of the serotonin syndrome with specific SSRIs are discussed below. 

Psychiatric effects have been previously reported with celecoxib (SEDA-26, 123), and may represent a class effect of the COX-2 inhibitors, according to the Australian Adverse Reactions Advisory Committee (ADRAC), which has received 142 reports of acute neuropsychiatric reactions attributed to celecoxib and 49 to rofecoxib (214). The most common reactions associated with celecoxib were confusion (n = 23) somnolence (n = 22), and insomnia (n = 21), while those associated with rofecoxib were confusion (n = 18) and hallucinations (n = 11). In many cases the onset of the reaction occurred within 24 hours of the first dose of the drug. 

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