An adverse reaction is defined as any unpredictable, unintended, undesirable, or unexpected biological response that a patient may have to medications. Below is a list of the some of the possible common adverse reactions that could be experienced when starting a new medication:
- Headache, tremors, dizziness, muscle spasms, confusion
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Skin rash or flushing
- Hypotension (low blood pressure), Hypertension (high blood pressure), arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), tachycardia (high heart rate), or bradycardia (low heart rate)
- Shortness of breath, dyspnea (difficulty in breathing), or respiratory depression (slowed breathing)
If an adverse drug reaction is reported to our clinical staff, the pharmacist will do a complete clinical assessment with the patient. Based on his/her clinical judgment, a plan of action will be formulated. This plan of action could include counseling on common preventative measures if a known and manageable adverse reaction is reported or contacting your physician to obtain instructions which may involve modifying the dosage or discontinuing the medication completely.
