Evaluation of medicine package inserts: a study of two cases of Pelargonium sidoides D.C. phytomedicines

Abstract

In order for a phytotherapeutic drug be approved and sold in Brazil, it must be registered with the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), where the quality, safety and efficacy of the product are carefully appraised. In addition, the drug must also meet a number of criteria one of which is the adequacy of the package inserts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to appraise the package inserts of all phytotherapeutic drugs produced using a standardized extract of Pelargonium sidoides, which were registered and available from Brazilian pharmacies. This checking was to ascertain whether these inserts fulfilled the requirements stipulated by RDC 140/03. The information required under RDC 140/03 was appraised through a previously devised standard form. Evaluation of the package inserts revealed that neither of the two brands fully met the requirements of the legislation. Manufacturer 'A' met only 37.0% of the requirements satisfactorily, while 16.0% of the information was considered unsatisfactory and 47.0% of the information was absent. Regarding manufacturer 'B', 64.2% of the analyzed requirements were considered satisfactory, while 16.0% were considered unsatisfactory and 19.8% of the information was absent. A package insert should contain information about medicine for consumers, pharmacists and doctors. However, the results obtained in this study showed that the information presented in the package insert of both medicines was unsatisfactory, and in many cases, violates the legislation.