Adverse Drug Reactions: Types, Examples, and Clinical Significance

Adverse Drug Reactions: Types, Examples, and Clinical Significance

Question. Write short note on drug reactions.

Answer.

Drug Reactions

While achieving therapeutic levels drug produce unwanted side effects or toxicity. This is known as adverse drug reaction.

• Drug reactions are divided in two types i.e. predictable reactions in the form of side effcts, overdosage, toxicity and unpredictable reactions in form of idiosyncrasy and hypersensitivity reactions.
• Following are the adverse drug reactions:

“Understanding adverse drug reactions through FAQs: Types, examples, and clinical significance explained”

• Side effect: Undesirable effcts which accompany therapeutic effcts ofdrug so does not necessitate stoppage of drug, e.g. Anti­cholinergics in treatment of peptic ulcer cause xerostomia.
• Toxic effct: They develop when drug is used for the longer period in therapeutic doses, e.g.
  Patient taking isoniazid for tuberculosis develop peripheral neuropathy.
• Poisoning: It occurs when large doses of drug are consumed for prolonged periods.
• Drug Intolerance: Some people are intolerant to the drug in small therapeutic doses, It is due to low threshold of the person to the drug, e.g.
  Chloroquine in usual doses cause nausea and vomiting while in an intolerant person it causes vomiting with single tablet.

“Importance of studying adverse drug reactions for healthcare professionals: Questions explained”

• Idiosyncrasy: It is an abnormal reaction to any drug which occur in individuals who are genetically predisposed to it.
• Drug allergy: Allergy to any drug is independent of its dose. These reactions are based on humoral factor or cell mediated.
• Photosensitivity: Exposure of skin to ultraviolet rays of sun results in cutaneous reactions from drug induced sensitization.
• Teratogenicity: A drug is teratogenic when it harms the fetus. Such types of drugs should not be given to pregnant ladies.