Table 5.
Drug classes and individual drugs most frequently implicated in causing the 344 possible hospital-acquired suspected ADRs among 194 inpatients, Uganda, 2014
| Pharmacological drug class | Number of hospital-acquired ADRs, n (%)* | Rank by causative drug | Rank by frequency of use | Implicated drugs (number of linked ADRs) | Hospital-acquired ADRs (number of ADRs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antibacterials | 150 (44) | 1 | 1 | Ceftriaxone (93), metronidazole (42), levofloxacin (15), ciprofloxacin (11), azithromycin (6), erythromycin (6), amoxicillin (3), co-trimoxazole (2), ampicillin (2), cloxacillin (1), gentamicin (1), clavulanic acid (1) | Vomiting (32), dizziness (19), fever (16), nausea (15), appetite loss (14), headache (11), dizziness (8), diarrhoea (8), pruritus (6), abdominal pain (6), malaise (4), diarrhoea (4), dizziness (3), epigastric pain (3), constipation (2), skin rash (2), tachycardia (2), flatulence (1), jaundice (1), decreased urine output (1), oral sores (1), blurred vision (1), dyspepsia (1), peripheral neuropathy (1), abdominal discomfort (1), convulsions (1), paraesthesia (1), hypertension (1), palpitations (1) |
| Uterotonics | 43 (13) | 2 | 3 | Misoprostol (36), oxytocin (10) | Lower abdominal pain (13), vaginal bleeding (11), headache (5), diarrhoea (4), dizziness (3), vomiting (2), malaise (1), palpitations (1), back pain (1), raised pulse (1), nausea (1) |
| Cardiovascular drugs | 39 (11) | 3 | 4 | Captopril (14), carvedilol (11), nifedipine (11), frusemide (10), hydralazine (5), digoxin (3), amlodipine (3), labetalol (2), cardiac aspirin (1), lisinopril (1), propranolol (1) | Headache (8), diarrhoea (3), dizziness (3), palpitations (3), vomiting (3), epigastric pain (3), dry cough (2), abdominal pain (2), oedema (2), joint pain (1), blurred vision (1), dysuria (1), nausea (1), constipation (1), low diastolic blood pressure (1), fever (1), paraesthesia (1), burning sensation (1), malaise (1), constipation (1), orthostatic hypotension (1), hypovolaemia (1) |
| Analgesics | 36 (10) | 4 | 2 | Tramadol (19), diclofenac (8), morphine (4), codeine (1), fentanyl (1) ibuprofen (1), paracetamol (1) | Vomiting (11), dizziness (6), constipation (5), epigastric pain (4), nausea (3), headache (2), tachycardia (1), palpitations (1), diarrhoea (1), hypertension (1), abdominal pain (1), pruritus (1) |
| Antimalarials | 26 (8) | 5 | 5 | Quinine (22), artesunate (5), artemether (3), lumefantrine (3) | Dizziness (4), vomiting (4), tinnitus (3), headache (3), nausea (2), vomiting (2), palpitations (1), taste disturbance (1), appetite loss (1), raised pulse (1), epigastric pain (1), diarrhoea (1), blurred vision (1), vaginal bleeding (1), lower abdominal pain (1), dysuria (1) |
| Central nervous system drugs | 18 (5) | 6 | 6 | Haloperidol (10), diazepam (3), phenytoin (2), benztropine (1), lignocaine (1), metoclopramide (1), atropine (1) | Dizziness (3), drowsiness (2), poor orientation to time and place (1), uncoordinated movement (1), blurred vision (1), appetite loss (1), hypotension (1), stiff neck (1), swollen tongue (1), fever (1), tremors (1), hypertension (1), swollen lips (1), malaise (1), vomiting (1), paraesthesia (1), headache (1) |
| Antituberculous drugs | 15 (4) | 7 | 7 | Isoniazid (14), pyrazinamide (14), rifampicin (13), ethambutol (10) | Vomiting (3), diarrhoea (2), appetite loss (2), yellow eyes (1), nausea (1), fever (2), abdominal discomfort (1), paraesthesia (1), shortness of breath (1), dizziness (1) |
| Blood | 13 (4) | 8 | 8 | Blood (13) | Vomiting (4), difficulty in breathing (2), headache (2), chills (2), hypertension (1), bleeding (1), fever (1) |
| Antifungals | 9 (3) | 9 | 8 | Amphotericin B (4), fluconazole (4), ketoconazole (1) | Vomiting (1), malaise (1), hypokalaemia (1), nausea (1), skin rash (1), headache (1), hypertension (1), loss of vision (1) |
| Contraceptives | 8 (2) | 10 | 10 | Ethinylestradiol (7), levonorgestrel (7) | Headache (2), excessive salivation (1), palpitations (1), vomiting (1), nausea (1), abdominal fullness (1) |
*A patient may have experienced one or more possible hospital-acquired suspected ADRs.
ADR, adverse drug reaction.