TY - JOUR
T1 - Ovulation-inducing drugs
T2 - A drug utilization and risk study in the dutch population
AU - de Jong-van den Berg, L. T W
AU - Cornel, M. C.
AU - van den Berg, P. B.
AU - Bortolussi, A. C A
AU - Twerda, H. M.
AU - Lappöhn, R. E.
AU - Wesseling, H.
PY - 1992/1/1
Y1 - 1992/1/1
N2 - This study describes the use of the ovulation stimulating drugs clomifene, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in a representative sample of a population of Dutch women in the child-bearing age group. Clomifene or hMG/hCG are seldom used alone. A considerable percentage of the women received at least four different ovulation-inducing and related drugs during the observation period of two years. Thirty percent of the women who used clomifene were treated for 6 or more cycles. These findings argue for a relative “overuse” and “misuse” of clomifene. Buserelin, a drug not registered for the indication ovulation induction in The Netherlands but used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs as inhibitors of pituitary gonadotropin production, was nevertheless prescribed to 38% of the hMG /hCG users and to 11 % of the clomifene users. Our study indicates that, though the potential risks of congenital malformations due to clomifene are difficult to assess, they may be considerable; this, and the fact that different ovulation-inducing drugs are used together with clomifene, emphasizes the need for post-marketing surveillance.
AB - This study describes the use of the ovulation stimulating drugs clomifene, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) in a representative sample of a population of Dutch women in the child-bearing age group. Clomifene or hMG/hCG are seldom used alone. A considerable percentage of the women received at least four different ovulation-inducing and related drugs during the observation period of two years. Thirty percent of the women who used clomifene were treated for 6 or more cycles. These findings argue for a relative “overuse” and “misuse” of clomifene. Buserelin, a drug not registered for the indication ovulation induction in The Netherlands but used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs as inhibitors of pituitary gonadotropin production, was nevertheless prescribed to 38% of the hMG /hCG users and to 11 % of the clomifene users. Our study indicates that, though the potential risks of congenital malformations due to clomifene are difficult to assess, they may be considerable; this, and the fact that different ovulation-inducing drugs are used together with clomifene, emphasizes the need for post-marketing surveillance.
KW - Clomifene
KW - Drug utilization
KW - Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
KW - Human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG)
KW - Pharmacy records
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0026555340&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/JRS-1992-3205
DO - 10.3233/JRS-1992-3205
M3 - Article
C2 - 23510871
AN - SCOPUS:0026555340
VL - 3
SP - 99
EP - 111
JO - International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine
JF - International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine
SN - 0924-6479
IS - 2
ER -