Adverse reactions Health Dictionary

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Adverse Reactions: From 1 Different Sources

Herbalists, phytotherapists, other practitioners and companies are required by the Committee on Safety of Medicines to report all adverse reactions associated with herbal products used in the treatment of disease in the UK within one month. Adverse reactions to over-the-counter alternative medicines should be reported using the yellow card scheme. (CSM., Current Problems 1986, No 16:477.) 
Health Source: Bartrams Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine
Author: Health Encyclopedia

Adverse Event / Reaction

Any undesirable or unwanted consequence of a preventive, diagnostic or therapeutic procedure.... adverse event / reaction

Adverse Reactions To Drugs

When a new drug is introduced, it has usually been studied only in relatively few patients – typically 1,500. If n patients have been studied, and no serious effects observed, there is still a chance of a serious adverse e?ect occurring in the general population as frequently as 3/n (1:500).

Adverse effects can be divided into types. First, those which are closely related to the concentration of the drug and accord with what is known of its PHARMACOLOGY. These so-called type A (augmented pharmacological) effects are distinguished from type B (bizarre) effects which are unpredictable, usually rare, and often severe. ANAPHYLAXIS is the most obvious of these; other examples include bone-marrow suppression with CO-TRIMOXAZOLE; hepatic failure (see HEPATITIS) with SODIUM VALPROATE; and PULMONARY FIBROSIS with AMIODARONE. A more comprehensive classi?cation includes reactions type C (chronic effects), D (delayed effects – such as teratogenesis or carcinogenesis) and E (end-of-dose effects – withdrawal effects). Examples of adverse reactions include nausea, skin eruptions, jaundice, sleepiness and headaches.

While most reported adverse reactions are minor and require no treatment, patients should remind their doctors of any drug allergy or adverse e?ect they have suffered in the past. Medical warning bracelets are easily obtained. Doctors should report adverse effects to the authorities – in the case of Britain, to the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM), using the yellow-card reporting machinery.... adverse reactions to drugs

Potentially Preventable Adverse Outcome

Complication of a condition which may be modified or prevented with appropriate treatment.... potentially preventable adverse outcome

Sunlight, Adverse Effects Of

Problems resulting from overexposure to sunlight. Fair-skinned people are more susceptible. Short-term overexposure causes sunburn and, in intense heat, can result in heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Repeated overexposure over a long period can cause premature aging of the skin and solar keratoses. It increases the risk of skin cancer. Protection of the skin with sunscreens helps to prevent sun damage. Photosensitivity is an abnormal sensitivity to sunlight, resulting in a rash.

Exposure to sunlight can affect the eyes, causing irritation of the conjunctiva, actinic keratopathy, or pterygium.

Good sunglasses help to prevent eye problems.... sunlight, adverse effects of


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