European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS TO CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

*Dr. Aditi Kudchadkar, Dr. Amullya Tarkar Pednekar and Dr. Ojasvi Gaude

ABSTRACT

Aim: The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the adverse drug reactions due to the anticancer drugs in patients with malignancy. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical course of drug reaction and to assess the causality and preventability of the identified adverse drug reaction. Methodology: This is a prospective observational study conducted over a period of one year in 200 patients receiving cancer chemotherapy in the medicine, surgery, pediatrics and gynaecology wards of goa medical college. Results: The number of females were 147 (73.5%) and the number of males were 53 (26.5%).The total number of adverse drug reactions observed were 656. Approximately 63% of the adverse drug reactions were classified as probable according to Naranjo algorithm with a score ranging from 5-8 while 37% were categorised as possible with score of 1-4. Assessment of the severity of the adverse drug reactions was done by Hartwig Seigel scale with 95% of the ADRs belonging to mild category. Majority of the cancers were of breast i.e 77 out of 200 patients (38.5%). Among the chemotherapeutic drugs used 26% were antimetabolites. The most common adverse effect observed was haematological in 85% of patients. Next adverse reaction noticed was nausea/vomiting forming 17% of total and alopecia formed 39% of ADR’s. Conclusion: For safety and increased efficacy of the drugs pharmacovigilance is of utmost importance in the department of oncology. It helps to increase the compliance of the patient, decrease the incidence of the ADRs and decrease the financial burden for the patient and the society.

Keywords: Adverse drug reactions, cancer chemotherapy, pharmacovigilance.