Post-Drug Syndromes: A Neglected Challenge in Pharmacovigilance and Public Health

The policy brief addresses the issue of post-drug syndromes (PDS), which are persistent conditions caused by medications that continue after the drug is stopped, such as Post-Finasteride Syndrome and Post-SSRI Sexual Dysfunction. Current pharmacovigilance systems are inadequate for detecting these long-term adverse effects, leading to misclassification and under-recognition. The brief identifies systemic failures in safety science assumptions, reporting methodologies, and governance, which result in preventable health burdens and loss of trust. It proposes recommendations for improving drug safety oversight, including recognizing PDS in pharmacovigilance, enhancing reporting mechanisms, and integrating persistent effects into medical education and informed consent. The document aims to guide regulators and health professionals in evolving pharmacovigilance systems to better address long-term drug safety.