Adverse reaction

Adverse Reaction

An adverse reaction refers to an undesired harmful effect resulting from a medication or other intervention such as surgery. An adverse reaction, also known as a side effect, can occur with a wide range of medical substances, including prescription and over-the-counter medications, vaccines, and supplements.

Definition

An adverse reaction is a harmful or unpleasant reaction, which occurs after the administration of a drug or other intervention, and which is unintended and occurs at doses normally used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy of disease, or for modification of physiological function.

Types of Adverse Reactions

Adverse reactions can be classified into two main types: Type A and Type B. Type A reactions are common, predictable, and often associated with the pharmacological action of the drug. On the other hand, Type B reactions are uncommon, unpredictable, and not related to the pharmacological action of the drug.

Causes

Adverse reactions can be caused by a variety of factors including the dosage and duration of medication use, the simultaneous use of multiple medications (polypharmacy), and individual patient characteristics such as age, sex, and genetic factors.

Management

The management of adverse reactions involves discontinuing the offending medication (if possible), treating the symptoms of the reaction, and substituting with an alternative medication if necessary. In some cases, the benefits of continuing the medication may outweigh the risks, and the patient may choose to continue the medication while managing the adverse reaction.

See Also

• Pharmacovigilance
• Drug interaction
• Drug allergy
• Side effect