Drug Safety and Effectiveness

Pharmacovigilance research is imperative in informing better pharmaceutical practice, policy and treatment related to drug safety and effectiveness. The ODPRN has conducted multiple studies evaluating the real-world comparative effectiveness of drug therapies, drug-drug interactions, and potential adverse events associated with numerous drugs.


New Research

The Opioid Mortality Surveillance Report: Analysis of opioid-related deaths in Ontario July 2017 – June 2018

There is a need to better characterize and understand the factors that lead to opioid-related deaths in Ontario. The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network, the Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario and Public Health Ontario have co-published a report that describes the current trends and characteristics of confirmed opioid-related deaths in Ontario between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

The report aims to advance understanding of the current rise of opioid-related deaths, as well as inform public health practice and system planning that addresses opioid-related harms in the province.

Access the full report and associated resources:


All Research on Drug Safety and Effectiveness

wdt_ID Title Publication Type Date Released Clinical Topic Additional Resources
wdt_ID Title Publication Type Date Released Clinical Topic Additional Resources
1 ICES Report: New findings highlight potential risks of common drug combination in cardiac patients Journal Article 01 May 2009 Cardiovascular Health
2 Macrolide-induced digoxin toxicity: A population-based study Journal Article 15 Jul 2009 Cardiovascular Health
3 Adverse cardiovascular events during treatment with pioglitazone and rosiglitazone: Population based cohort study Journal Article 19 Aug 2009 Diabetes Research Minute
4 Prescribing of opioid analgesics and related mortality before and after the introduction of long-acting oxycodone Journal Article 07 Dec 2009 Opioids Letter to Editor
5 Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and breast cancer mortality in women receiving tamoxifen: A population based cohort study Journal Article 09 Feb 2010 Other
6 Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole–induced hyperkalemia in patients receiving inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system Journal Article 28 Jun 2010 Cardiovascular Health
7 Beta-blockers trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and the risk of hyperkalemia requiring hospitalization in the elderly: A nested case-control study Journal Article 01 Sep 2010 Cardiovascular Health
8 Impaired renal function modifies the risk of severe hypoglycaemia among users of insulin but not glyburide: A population-based nested case-control study Journal Article 25 Oct 2010 Kidney Disease
9 The safety of proton pump inhibitors and clopidogrel in patients after stroke Journal Article 27 Dec 2010 Cardiovascular Health Research Minute
10 Hospital admissions for hyperkalemia with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole: A cohort study using health care database codes for 393 039 older women with urinary tract infections Letter to Editor 08 Jan 2011 Kidney Disease
Please note that this report is NOT COMPLETE and is still in progress. Click below if you would like to continue.