Abstract

A REVIEW ON ADVERSE DRUG REACTION AND ITS HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Chintha Chandran*, Dhanya Dharman and Shaiju S. Dharan

Abstract

Adverse drugs reactions (ADRs), put simply, are noxious, unintended, and undesirable effects that occur as a result of drug tre atment at doses normally used in man for diagnosis, prophylaxis, and treatment. Although there are many terms indicating the harmful and undesirable effects of drug treatment, the term ‗adverse drug reaction‘ describes them best. During the course of treatment, drugs prescribed to patients produce certain effects other than the desired or expected effects. An adverse event is harm that occurs while a patient is taking a drug, irrespective of whether the drug is suspected to be the cause. A sideeffect is any effect caused by a drug other than the intended therapeutic effect, whether beneficial, neutral or harmful. The term ‗side-effect‘ is often used interchangeably with ‗ADR‘ although the former usually implies an effect that is less harmful, predictable and may not even require discontinuation of therapy (e.g. ankle oedema with vasodilators). Drug toxicity describes adverse effects of a drug that occur because the dose or plasma concentration has risen above the therapeutic range, either unintentionally or intentionally (drug overdose). Drug abuse is the misuse of recreational or therapeutic drugs that may lead to addiction or dependence, serious physiological injury (such as damage to kidneys, liver, heart), psychological harm (abnormal behavior patterns, hallucinations, memory loss), or death.

Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, Drug abuse, Side effects.