[Postmarketing surveillance studies in community pharmacies].
Postmarketing surveillance of prescription medicines is a routine practice, yet similar evaluation of non-prescription medicines is uncommon. In order to get insights into the validity of pharmacy-based observational studies 22 postmarketing surveillance studies in the German community of pharmacies involving non-prescription medications have been investigated. The objective was to evaluate their contribution to the knowledge about drug use in self-medication. The results of the comparative evolution show that postmarketing surveillance studies with non-prescription medications deliver valid and meaningful findings about the usage, effectiveness and safety. Statements to the efficacy of the drug often serve marketing interests.
Universität Leipzig, Institut für Pharmazie, Talstr. 33, 04103 Leipzig. Nieber@rz.uni-leipzig.de
Karen
K
Nieber
Walter
W
Lehmacher
D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D010594:Pharmacies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing; D012651:Self Medication
D004366:Nonprescription Drugs