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About the Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter
The Canadian Adverse Reaction Newsletter (CARN) features topics related to serious or unexpected adverse reactions suspected of being associated with drugs, natural health products and medical devices marketed in Canada. The CARN is published quarterly by Health Canada's Marketed Health Products Directorate and has existed since 1991.
The CARN raises awareness and provides facts and safety information about marketed health products and reported adverse reactions that are suspected to be associated with specific health products. Articles discuss health products and specific adverse reactions. The April issue of the CARN includes annual statistics on adverse reaction reporting, and each issue provides a quarterly summary of advisories and warnings.
Readership Includes:
- Health professionals (such as pharmacists, physicians, naturopaths, nurses, and/or dentists)
- Subscribers to the
 Canadian Medical Association Journal
- Industry manufacturers and marketers
- Drug information centres, health professional associations and health regulatory agencies
- Consumers and patients
The newsletter publishes information about adverse reactions before comprehensive benefit-risk evaluations and regulatory decisions are undertaken. It also alerts health professionals and consumers to advisories, warnings and recalls. The information is not meant to make recommendations for an individual's medical care. Patients concerned about information in the CARN that relates to specific health products should continue their health product therapies and consult their health professional.
The CARN also alerts readers to signals - preliminary indications of product -related safety issues detected during reviews of suspected adverse reaction cases, which are reported to Health Canada through the Canada Vigilance Program, and the Medical Devices System. A signal is not proof that an adverse reaction is associated with a particular health product, but it triggers the need to investigate further. Signals are carefully evaluated to confirm or disprove a potential association.
The identification of an issue in the CARN can, and is sometimes intended to, lead to an increase in adverse reaction reporting. This is referred to as "stimulated reporting", which can also occur after issuance of a risk communication or media attention to a particular safety issue.
Subscribe to the CARN
When you subscribe to MedEffect e-Notice, you automatically subscribe to the CARN. The newsletter will be e-mailed to you quarterly in January, April, July and October. You will also receive updates on advisories, warnings and recalls. If you wish to receive a print version, contact the CARN Editorial Team.
The CARN is available at no cost and is provided in print, HTML and PDF formats. Electronic versions are sent to over 16,000 MedEffect e-Notice subscribers, and to 67,000 Canadian Medical Association Journal subscribers. Print versions are mailed to 26,000 Canadian pharmacists and other interested individuals.
Read published issues of the CARN
Visit the CARN Index to read published issues of the CARN.
NOTE: The information provided by the CARN concerning the safety of health products is distinct from the health product regulatory process and from the medical care of individual patients. The CARN is not intended for use in regulatory decision-making actions concerning health product safety. Decisions on health product therapy for individual patients fall under the "practice of medicine," which is regulated by provincial and territorial governments. Patients concerned about health product information reported in the CARN should consult their health professional
Contact the CARN Editorial Team
Contact the CARN Editorial Team to receive a print version of the CARN, to change your subscription, or if you need more information.
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