Adverse drug reactions among hospitalized patients in Psychiatry Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to psychotropic drugs are common. There are very few reports of ADR profile of psychotropic drugs. Pharmacovigilance of psychotropic drugs is essential to improve patient care and create awareness among physicians. Objective: To study the pattern of ADRs among hospitalized patients in the Department of Psychiatry of Tertiary Care Hospital. Materials and Methods: This prospective study was conducted at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital and all the patients who developed ADR to psychotropic drugs formed the study population. Details were documented on an ADR reporting form of Central Drugs Standard Control Organization and Causality assessment was done based on Naranjo algorithm. Data were subjected to descriptive analysis. Results: During the study period, 31 patients developed a total of 53 ADRs. Polypharmacy was seen in 39% of patients who developed ADR. Based on causality assessment in these cases as per Naranjo algorithm, all were judged as probable, except one as possible. The most common ADRs observed were extrapyramidal symptoms. Antipsychotics are the most common group of drugs found responsible for most of the ADRs; olanzapine being the individual drug which caused the maximum number of ADRs. Conclusion: Active surveillance from the part of clinicians and pharmacologists will help build a database for ADRs in Indian setting.