A doctor health expert has issued an urgent warning about side effects to anyone taking drugs including paracetamol, atorvastatin, ramipril, omeprazole, amlodipine and lansoprazole. Dr Shanti Pal, of the WHO Regulation and Safety Unit, has told people they hold "the power" in their own hands when it comes to feeling unwell when taking any form of medication.
Common and Rare Reactions
Most medications carry some side effects, ranging from common issues affecting more than one in 10 people, to rare or severe adverse reactions affecting fewer than one in 10,000 people. Common problems are often quite mild and can include nausea, drowsiness, fatigue or minor headaches.
However, some rare reactions can be serious, including significant effects on the body's organs or severe allergic responses. While those serious reactions are typically reported to the authorities, many people simply endure the milder ones, believing they're not worth acting upon.
WHO Warning on Mild Symptoms
Posting on X on Monday, the World Health Organisation is urging people to take action - even if their reaction is mild. Dr Pal said that even simply not feeling "right" could be linked to your medication, reports the Mirror.
She asked: "Ever taken a medicine and felt off, a symptom you weren't expecting? A rash, an upset stomach, unusual tiredness, something that just didn't feel right. These could be signs of a side effect. Don't ignore it. Report it."
She stressed that the information could prove invaluable and make a real difference to others in the future. She explained: "Medicines can improve health and save lives every day, but sometimes they can cause side effects. That's why reporting matters. That list of side effects in your medicine leaflet it exists because people like you spoke up."
Reporting in the UK
In the UK, people should report any side effects - known as Adverse Drug Reactions or ADRs - through the Yellow Card reporting scheme, which is operated by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The MHRA is responsible for regulating medicines, medical devices, blood components, e-cigarettes, and herbal or homeopathic remedies throughout the country.
The MHRA advised: "For established medicines and vaccines you should report all serious suspected ADRs, even if the effect is well recognised." It said it was particularly interested in receiving Yellow Card reports of suspected ADRs in children, in patients who are over 65, to biological medicines and vaccines, associated with delayed drug effects and interactions, and to complementary remedies such as homeopathic and herbal products.
You can report an issue with a medicine, device, vaccine, herbal or homeopathic remedy via the Yellow Card scheme. You can report suspected side effects electronically via the Yellow Card website or the free Yellow Card app, available from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Alternatively, for any patients who do not have online access to report a suspected side effect to the Yellow Card scheme, call 0800 731 6789 for free, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.
For medical devices, report any adverse incident in England, Wales and Northern Ireland using the Yellow Card scheme in accordance with your organisation's medical device policies and procedures. In Scotland, report to the Health Facilities Scotland online incident reporting system unless you are a private facility providing care to private clients, in which case you should report to the MHRA and the Care Inspectorate. Use the Yellow Card website to report information on suspected problems or incidents involving a defective medicine, a falsified product, or safety concerns associated with e-cigarettes or their refill containers.
