General 186 (10.6) | Generally unwell | 63 (33.9) | 75-year-old female felt dizzy and sleepy after taking donepezil. Mild severity, not preventable. |
Fatigue | 47 (25.3) | |
Weight change | 24 (12.9) | 10-year-old male experienced anorexia and poor weight gain on methylphenidate. Mild severity, potentially preventable. |
Exacerbation of existing condition | 20 (10.8) | |
Other | 32 (17.2) | |
|
Gastroenterology 387 (22.0) | Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea | 213 (55.0) | 2-year-old female developed diarrhoea after takingamoxicillin. Mild severity, not preventable. |
Constipation | 53 (13.7) | 81-year-old male developed severe constipation from codeine requiring hospitalisation. Severe harm, potentially preventable. |
Dyspepsia | 48 (12.4) | |
Bleeding | 28 (7.2) | |
Pain | 12 (3.1) | |
Other | 33 (8.5) | |
|
Cardiology 217 (12.3) | Hypotension | 136 (62.7) | 93-year-old male experienced recurrent falls secondary to hypotension while taking cilazapril, metoprolol, frusemide, and isosorbide mononitrate. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |
Heart failure | 39 (18.0) | |
Arrhythmias | 27 (12.4) | |
Other | 15 (6.9) | |
|
Neurology 192 (10.9) | Cognition | 61 (31.8) | 83-year-old female experinced a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident after commencing aspirin and clopidogrel, resulting in death. Not preventable. |
Sensory | 41 (21.4) | |
Headache | 35 (18.2) | |
Balance | 32 (16.7) | 79-year-old male developed postural hypotension while taking metoprolol and cilazapril. Fell and developed a subdural haemaotoma, died during hospitalisation. Potentially preventable. |
Movement | 12 (6.3) | |
Intracerebral event | 11 (5.7) | |
|
Renal 161 (9.1) | Renal | 139 (86.3) | 69-year-old male with severe chronic renal failure died within 2 weeks of an increased dose of metformin and allopurinol. Death, potentially preventable. |
Urology | 22 (13.7) | |
|
Musculoskeletal 107 (6.1) | Pain | 75 (70.1) | 81-year-old male experienced repeated episodes of gout while taking bendrofluazide. Mild severity, potentially preventable. |
Gout | 18 (16.8) | |
Bones and joints | 14 (13.1) | |
|
Skin 104 (5.9) | Rash | 50 (48.1) | 8-year-old female developed scalp irritation and discomfort after using malathion shampoo. Mild severity, not preventable. |
Itch | 23 (22.1) | |
Other | 31 (29.8) | |
|
Mental health 101 (5.7) | Mood/affect | 66 (65.3) | 53-year-old male experienced vivid dreams and sleep disturbance while taking varenicline. Mild severity, not preventable. |
Sleep disturbance | 26 (25.7) | |
Addiction | 9 (8.9) | 43-year-old female described as abusing prescribed codeine. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |
|
Haematology 81 (4.6) | Haematology | 77 (95.1) | 49-year-old male developed thrombocytopenia while taking carbamazebine. Mild severity, not preventable. |
Immunology | 4 (4.9) | |
|
Endocrine 71 (4.0) | Diabetes related | 48 (67.6) | 71-year-old female taking glipizide and insulin experienced recurrent hypoglycaemic episodes. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |
Sweating and flushing | 10 (14.1) | |
Other | 13 (18.3) | |
|
Reproductive health 60 (3.4) | Bleeding | 34 (56.7) | 51-year-old female on dabigatran experienced menorrhagia requiring a blood transfusion. Moderate severity, not preventable. |
Infection/discharge | 18 (30.0) | |
Pregnancy | 8 (13.3) | |
|
Respiratory 57 (3.2) | Cough and wheeze | 57 (100) | 71-year-old male developed acute pneumonitis while taking amiodarone. Severe harm, not preventable. |
|
Economic 38 (2.2) | Extra treatment required | 38 (100) | 32-year-old male required hospitalisation and time off work for a gastrointestinal bleed while taking diclofenac and no proton-pump inhibitor. Moderate severity, potentially preventable. |