"The safety information provided on all fronts ”in hospitals, at the doctor's office, and the pharmacy ”is hit or miss. When considering a new medication, consumers should ask their doctors about the drug in question, its purported use, how it should be taken, whether certain activities should be avoided, whether drug interactions are possible, and the types of side effects that could occur," said Santa. Research suggests that doctors are quick to dismiss complaints about side effects. "Patients should speak up. Discussing the risks of adverse effects with your doctor will help you prepare for those effects while increasing the chances you'll stay on the drug you need," said Santa. According to the Consumer Reports Health poll, more than half (53 percent) of Americans currently taking a medication have talked to their doctor in the past 12 months about switching to a different prescription drug, with side effects being one of the main reasons, in addition to cost and lack of insurance coverage.
Adverse effects are understudied according to Dr. Santa, who notes that most research focuses on a drug's benefits rather than potential problems. Recent reports published by Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, a public education project that compares drugs based on safety, effectiveness, and cost, have highlighted several classes of drugs where the risk of side effects can overshadow the benefits of the drug.
Some drug categories that are notable for their side effects include those to treat type 2 diabetes, overactive bladder, and the class of medications known as antipsychotics. Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs, provides detailed analyses for drugs to treat these conditions, in addition to more than 30 other conditions. The reports are available for free online at wwwnsumerReportsHealth/BestBuyDrugs.
Case in point: A new Best Buy Drugs report that evaluates prescription drugs to treat overactive bladder cites studies which have found that only 10 to 20 percent of people are still taking an overactive bladder medicine after six to 12 months, representing a very high treatment dropout. It's estimated that cost may be a factor, but about a third to one-half of the dropout is due to side effects. "The overactive bladder category is really the poster child for drugs that offer limited benefits and a slew of adverse effects. And they're quite costly," said Santa. Despite the fact that drugs in this category are only moderately effective, sales have been strong thanks to heavy advertising to the tune of $126.9 million last year for five overactive bladder drugs. At the same time, drug companies spent $6.6 billion last year alone on promotions to physicians and other health care professionals, according to IMS Health.
SOURCE Consumer Reports