Can social media data lead to earlier detection of drug-related adverse events

Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety, 2016 Sep 7 doi: 10.1002/pds.4090. [Epub ahead of print]

Social media AE reporters were younger and focused on less-serious and fewer types of AEs than FAERS reporters. The potential for social media to provide earlier indications of AEs compared with FAERS is uncertain. Our findings highlight some of the promises and limitations of online social media versus conventional pharmacovigilance sources and the need for careful interpretation of the results.

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Authors

Duh MS, Cremieux P, Van Audenrode M, Vekeman F, Karner P, Zhang H, Greenberg P