Prevention of adverse drug reactions: role of the patient (consumer).
The prevention of adverse drug reactions should be a collective responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry (the drug manufacturer), the doctor (the prescriber of drugs) and the patient (the consumer of drugs). Patients themselves can play a significant role in the prevention of adverse drug reactions, in particular, ensuring a high level of compliance with medication instructions can maximise therapeutic effects and avoid or minimise the possible occurrence of potentially adverse reactions. Inadequate compliance can lead to toxicity or treatment failure (clearly exemplified in anticonvulsant, anticoagulant and immunosuppressive therapy) and, consequently, to increased treatment costs and a possible fatal outcome for the patient. Patients should also reject the belief that there is a "pill for every ill" and avoid indiscriminate self-medication and doctor hopping. Some DOs and DON'Ts for patients are also included as guidelines to prevent or minimise the occurrence of adverse drug reactions.