Pharmacology · MU Sofia

88. Side effects of drugs.

Defines adverse drug reactions as unwanted effects at normal therapeutic doses, then gives a table of common side effects across drug classes such as analgesics, antibiotics, antidepressants, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, anticoagulants, antidiabetics and statins. A second table lists factors that raise risk, including dose, duration, age, genetics, comorbidities, drug interactions and route of administration. It closes with clinical implications for monitoring and reporting, and recap questions.

Inside: 5 sections · 2 tables · 10 flashcards · 3 min

Topic 87 of 93 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Pharmacology (Dental Medicine, Year 3). The free AceMed note covers it in 5 sections, about 109 words (3 min of reading), with 10 flashcards.

In this note

  1. Side Effects of Drugs
  2. Common Side Effects by Drug Class
  3. Factors Influencing Side Effects
  4. Clinical Implications
  5. Recap Questions

Side Effects of Drugs

Side effects (adverse drug reactions – ADRs) are unwanted or harmful effects that occur at normal therapeutic doses. They may range from mild (e.g., nausea) to severe (e.g., anaphylaxis), and may affect any organ system.

Clinical Implications

  • Monitor high-risk patients (elderly, polypharmacy, comorbidities)
  • Educate patients on early warning signs of serious ADRs
  • Report ADRs to pharmacovigilance systems

Recap Questions

  1. 1. Why do NSAIDs cause renal impairment and gastrointestinal bleeding?
  2. 2. Which antibiotics are associated with tendon rupture and QT prolongation?
  3. 3. What side effects are typical of SSRIs vs. TCAs?
  4. 4. How does age affect the risk of drug side effects?
  5. 5. Name two antihypertensive classes and one common side effect for each

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