National adverse drug reaction surveillance. 1986

The collection of adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports by the Food and Drug Administration serves to provide additional information on the toxic reactions of drugs that often cannot be known before a drug is marketed. In 1986, a total of 53,547 ADR reports were received; 56% of these were made by US health care professionals based on observations made during usual clinical practice. The 1986 total represents an increase of 14% in ADR reporting over 1985, continuing a trend begun in 1981. While these increases are encouraging, US reporting rates are far below many other countries, and further encouragement of reporting must be done. Of these ADR reports, 24% involved serious reactions and 20% involved new drugs. An ADR report should be seen as a professional responsibility; reports are carefully analyzed and used.