Challenges in psychopharmacology: A drug information centre perspective

Abstract

What is known and objective Questions about psychotropic drugs are frequently submitted to drug information centres (DICs). Twenty years' experience from Norwegian DICs was used to identify particular challenges in responding to those questions. Comment Questions about psychopharmacological therapy are usually patient-related and are often difficult to answer. Frequent questions about psychotropic drugs come from experienced senior physicians in disciplines like psychiatry, geriatrics, general practice and neurology. The physicians often ask about specific drug use in pregnancy or breastfeeding, drug combinations and interactions, drug switching and formulations, and drug-withdrawal reactions. What is new and conclusion There is a lack of relevant information in drug monographs and guidelines to inform answers to the questions posed for the care of individual patients. There is a clear need for these topics to be highlighted in the pre- and postgraduate teaching of physicians. The issues highlighted are likely to be of international relevance based on our experience of the use of international sources of drug information. Use of psychotropic drugs in pregnancy and breastfeeding, combining or switching psychotropic drugs and formulations, and associated withdrawal reactions are frequent clinical problems encountered by physicians. A drug information centre perspective suggest increased awareness of user-friendly and specific sources of information, availability of decision support and pre-and postgraduate teaching on these topics.