[Active pharmacosurveillance of patients affiliated to the Colombian general social security/health system]

Determining negative results associated with medication through an active search of possible drug interactions in databases for patients affiliated to the Colombian general social security/health system.

Statistics related to Audifarma S.A. dispensation drug databases for about 4 million Colombian users were systematically reviewed for identifying drugs having known interactions involving risk, doses different from recommended ones or irregular dispensation. The pertinent health-care providing services were made aware of the above.

There was one case of nephrotoxicity being caused by zoledronic acid. 37 % of clopidogrel users concomitantly received omeprazole which reduces the former's effectiveness. 29.9 % of patients who were taking losartan were receiving doses higher than the recommended ones. 2.0 % of patients who were taking metoprolol or verapamil were simultaneously receiving them, at the risk of generating first-degree heart block, bradycardia, or systolic dysfunction. All these cases were notified to the pertinent health-care services.

Active pharmacosurveillance leads to resources being optimised, adverse events which can potentially cause morbidity or lethality being prevented or even determining problems which could be responsible for therapeutic failure. This type of strategy anticipates the appearance of possible risks for patients, meaning that drug use monitoring programmes in Colombia should be reinforced.