[Systematic collection of drug side effects].

An "Intensive Drug Monitoring" System has been established in collaboration of the Departments of Internal Medicine, Biometrics and Pharmacology of the Medical College Hannover. It is based on the hypothesis-free collection of therapy data as well as clinical symptoms and chemical parameters which may be side-effects of drugs. The procedure is described in detail. The advantages of "Intensive Drug Monitoring" are emphasized. Such systems especially should be used to answer specified questions. Besides "Intensive Drug Monitoring" the necessity of "Spontaneous Monitoring" of adverse drug effects is argued.