Adverse drug reaction

How it is used

Shortened to ADR. It is the formal term in pharmacovigilance and hospital notes, while patients say 'side effect'. ADRs are often classed as Type A (predictable, dose-related) and Type B (unpredictable, such as allergies). Health professionals report suspected ADRs to the national medicines regulator.

Example sentences

1. We reported the suspected adverse drug reaction to the regulator.

2. Older patients on many medicines have a higher risk of an adverse drug reaction.

Common collocations

• report an adverse drug reaction
• suspected adverse drug reaction
• serious ADR
• ADR reporting

Related terms

• side effectAn effect of a medicine that is not the main reason for taking it; most side effects are unwanted, such as nausea, drowsiness or a headache.
• pharmacovigilanceThe science and activities of detecting, assessing, understanding and preventing adverse effects and other safety problems of medicines once they are on the market.
• allergic reactionA response of the immune system to a medicine or other substance that it wrongly treats as harmful, causing signs such as a rash, itching, swelling or difficulty breathing.
• toxicityThe harmful effects a drug or chemical has on the body, especially at high doses or blood levels, or the degree to which a substance is poisonous.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• adverse drug reaction · Medicine

More terms: Side Effects and Interactions

• drug interaction
• contraindication
• overdose
• anaphylaxis
• polypharmacy
• dependence