Drug Affects/ Adverse Reactions Flashcards
Differnece bw Adverse effect and side ffet
Side effects (mild headache) considered to be less severe than adverse effects (severe headache)
Preventing adverse affects
Asking about allergies
Assessing condition
Obtain a thorough medical history
Thoroughly assess client and diagnostic data
Prevent medication errors
Monitor pharmacotherapy carefully
Know all drugs taken by the client
Be prepared for unusual drug effects
Question unusual orders
Teach clients about adverse effects
CADRIS
Canadian Adverse Drug Reaction INformation System
Drug Allergies
Caused by a hyperresponse of body’s defenses
Typically occur with small amounts of the drug
Severity not proportional to dose
Requires a previous exposure to allergen (or similar)
Allergy symptoms are non-specific to drug
Symptoms can be mild to life-threatening
Drugs classess with highest inceidnce of allergic reactions
Penicillins and related antibiotics
Insulin
Radiologic contrast media with iodine
NSAIDs
Aspirin
Cancer chemotherapy agents
Preservatives
Idiosyncratic reactions
Adverse effects that are unusual or unexpected responses to drug that are unrelated to action of drug
As more is learned about drugs and how they work, idiosyncratic reactions are less common
Carcinogenic drugs
Only used when benefits outweigh risks
Damage DNA, leading to mutations that affect gene expression
Effects may not be seen for years
Responses to carcinogens vary from individual to individual
Drugs known for producing cancer risk
Antineoplastics
Immunosuppressants
Hormone and hormone antagonists
Teratogenic drugs
Drugs that promote birth defects during pregnancy
Majority of drugs excreted through
Kidneys
How to avoid nephrotoxicity
Don’t give in Dehydration
Moniter BUN and Creatin test
Know Hx (Renal impair.)
How to moniter for hepatotoxicity
Liver funtion tests
Dermatologic Toxicity
Rash with pruritis is common
Photosensitivity – sunburn like response to sources of heat
Urticaria (hives) can be a sign of a more severe allergic reaction → anaphylaxis.
Angioedema – swelling of tissue that can impair breathing – serious
Stevens-Johnson syndrome – skin blisters, often near mucous membranes – serious
Bone marrow toxicity
Often is serious or life-threatening as impacts production of blood cells such as:
Pancytopenia / Aplastic anemia
Often associated with antineoplastics (tend to affect cells that undergo rapid mitosis)
Monitor cell counts carefully
Drug cardiotoxicity
Most commonly due to anthracyclines, a class of antineoplastic medications
Possible effects
arrhythmias
Heart failure
Monitor for the following (think of HF)
Drug Toxicity: Skeletal Muscle and Tendon Toxicity
Drug-induced skeletal myopathy is uncommon but can be severe when it does happen → rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis
Necrosis of skeletal muscles, causing release of myoglobin into circulation, can lead to renal failure
Presence of food in the stomach ___ rate of absorption
Decreases
