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Medicine vocabulary · History Taking and Examination

Drug history

Meaning in medicine, with examples

nounCommon term

In medicine, drug history means: The part of the history that lists every medicine a patient takes, including over-the-counter and herbal products, plus any drug allergies.

In Turkish: ilaç öyküsü, kullandığı ilaçlar

How it is used

Written as 'DH' in UK notes; US colleagues often say 'medication history' or 'meds'. Doctors record each drug with dose and frequency and compare it with the GP list or the patient's boxes (medicines reconciliation).

Example sentences

  1. Her drug history includes warfarin, so we need to check her INR.

  2. Taking a full drug history is essential before you prescribe anything new.

Common collocations

  • take a drug history
  • full drug history
  • drug history and allergies
  • medicationA substance used to treat, prevent or relieve the symptoms of a disease; also the whole set of drugs a patient takes.
  • allergyA harmful reaction of the immune system to something that is normally harmless, such as a medicine, a food or pollen.
  • past medical historyThe section of a history that lists a patient's previous and ongoing illnesses, operations and hospital stays.
  • drug interactionA change in how a medicine works or how strong it is, caused by another medicine, a food or a drink taken at the same time.
  • social historyThe part of the history about the patient's life outside illness: home, work, smoking, alcohol, drug use, daily activities and support.

More terms: History Taking and Examination

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.