Adverse Drug Reactions and Medication Errors

Question 1

Adverse Drug Reaction

Answer 1

harm associated with any dose of a drug

WHO: any noxious, unintended, and undesired effect that occurs at normal drug doses

Question 2

Terms Related to Adverse Drug Reactions

Answer 2

Read and consider definitions: 
Adverse (side) effect
Toxicity
Allergic reaction
Idiosyncratic effect
Paradoxical effect
Iatrogenic disease
Physical dependence
Carcinogenic effect
Teratogenic effect

Question 3

Types of Medication Errors (3)

Answer 3

Direct (dose too high)
Indirect (dose too low)
Fatal - mostly overdose

Question 4

Preventing Medication Errors (zeros and sevens)

Answer 4

NEVER use trailing zeros with medication orders (do not use 1.0 mg; simply use 1 mg)

ALWAYS use a leading zero for decimal dosages (do not use .25 mg; always use 0.25 mg)

“always lead never follow”

for sevens, always use a line through it to avoid confusion with the number 1

Question 5

mcg vs mg

Answer 5

microgram vs milligram

Question 6

5 Rights

+2 = 7 Rights

Answer 6

Right patient
Right drug
Right time
Right route
Right dose

Right documentation
Right reason