A Study of Adverse Drug Reactions Due to Antihypertensive Drugs in Diabetic Patients in a Multispecialty Hospital

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) present a serious public health problem that can affect patients, caregivers, pharmaceutical companies, and the health care system as a whole. The objective of the present study was to evaluate Adverse Drug Reactions associated with antihypertensive drugs in diabetic patients. The present study was an open, non-comparative, observational study done to monitor ADRs associated with antihypertensive medications in diabetic patients in a multispeciality hospital. A total of 347 adverse drug reactions were observed in 740 diabetic hypertensive patients during 2008-2010. A high percentage of ADRs occurred in elderly and female patients. Of the 347 ADRs, 185 (53.3%) were mild, 122 (35.1%) were moderate and 40 (11.5%) were identified to be severe. Combination therapy was associated with significantly less occurrence of ADRs, with a total of 147 (42.3%) as compared to monotherapy (n=200, 57.6%). Among the various antihypertensive drugs used in diabetic patients, diuretics were associated with higher number of ADRs (37.1%), followed by ACE inhibitors (34.2%), beta blockers (18.1%) and calcium channel blockers (10.3%).