Prescription-Event Monitoring. Recent experience with 5 NSAIDs.

The principles and methods of Prescription-Event Monitoring (PEM) are presented and illustrated by a study of general practice notes of 55,642 patients, who were prescribed one of five non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). PEM showed the expected side effects and a low incidence of serious adverse reactions. The general pattern of events during and following treatment was, with few exceptions, very similar. The incidence of side effects that have led to the withdrawal of three of the drugs from the market was extremely low. Complications of peptic ulcer were uncommon and deaths from this cause were rare. No difference was apparent in the incidence of serious gastrointestinal complications during or after stopping treatment or changing to another NSAID.