Gastrointestinal manifestations of adverse drug reactions

Adverse drug reactions affecting the digestive system were studied by epidemiologic methods. A population of 3164 inpatients and 612 outpatients were monitored for drug utilization and adverse drug reactions. Reactions affecting the digestive system were detected in 4.3% of the inpatients. Women experienced digestive reactions at a higher incidence than men (P<.05). Potassium chloride, heparin, dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, and aluminum and magnesium hydroxide suspension were the drugs most commonly cited as a cause of gastrointestinal reactions. A significantly greater rate of gastrointestinal reactions to levodopa (P<.01) and guanethidine (P<.05) were observed in women as compared to men. A similar predisposition to gastrointestinal side-effects of drugs was observed in outpatients where women reported a significantly higher incidence (P<.001) of gastrointestinal reactions as compared to men.Supported by a contract from the Food and Drug Administration and a grant from the National Institutes of Health.