Thursday, March 15, 2012

New Computer Algorithm Developed at Stanford Finds an Average 329 Side Effects For Most Drugs–Some Algorithm- Found Side Effects Are Added by the FDA to Drug Labels

This is pretty interesting as when you see 329 you must assume we have quite a few rare side effected included.  The software was developed at Stanford and uses information from the FDA and Canadian data bases.  Most drug labels list imagearound 69 and could you imagine if all of 300 plus were added.  This is another good place to add some bar codes when the information gets lengthy.

In view of the report though it is still wise for doctors to use their clinical common sense knowledge to determine if any of the new side effects are significant.  The next level is to develop an algorithm that can come through medical records to gather information for patterns as such that may be hidden.  BD 

On average, the program found 329 side effects for every drug, when most drug labels list an average of 69 effects. The new program, developed at Stanford University, combs through millions of doctor and patient reports to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Canada's MedEffect and similar databases.

Though it seems obvious to check the FDA's report database for new side effects, it's been difficult to do because the people in the database are too different from one another to conduct proper scientific studies. Outside of lab, real life is messy. "It's hard to compare one patient with another because each patient is so unique in their medical history, in their personal health," Tantonetti told InnovationNewsDaily. Because people in the database aren't comparable with each other, it's difficult to find true, new side effects.

Theoretically, that means the matches the new algorithm makes aren't as close as those from other programs. When Tantonetti checked his program, however, he found his results were as accurate or better than others', because his program doesn't need to ignore as much data, he said.

In the past, the FDA has added algorithm-found side effects to drug labels, Tantonetti said, though usually there is other corroborating evidence as well.

http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/stories/computer-program-uncovers-thousands-of-new-drug-side-effects

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