The incidence of drug side effects with reference to organ systems. Experience of the spontaneous reporting system of the Swiss Drug Side Effect Center and Comprehensive Drug Monitoring

: The reporting system of the Spontaneous Adverse Drug Reactions Center (SANZ) and the Comprehensive Hospital Drug Monitoring (CHDM) in Berne and St. Gallen are complementary ADR reporting institutions. The first collects data from the whole patient population as well as all drugs prescribed in Switzerland. The adverse drug reactions reported most frequently are easily detectable skin reactions, psychic disorders and reactions concerning the body as whole. From these reports signals can be generated, contributing to enhanced drug safety. The CHDM provides detailed information on all adverse drug reactions in a selected patient population. Because the number of patients exposed to a drug is known, a quantitative risk assessment can be calculated. The system contributes also to the detection of new ADRs. This relies partly on statistical analysis, partly on thorough clinical observations, but mostly on the combination of both. Allergic and pseudoallergic reactions were studied with some priority.