3 Side Effects, Precautions, and Medication Safety Free Online FlashCards

What is a medication side effect?

A side effect is an unwanted effect of a medicine, which may be mild and temporary or serious enough to need prompt care.

What can affect a medicine’s risks?

Risk depends on the specific medicine and may also be affected by a person’s health conditions and other medicines or supplements.

What are examples of common medication side effects?

Examples include nausea, stomach upset, dry mouth, headache, and drowsiness. These effects are not expected with every medicine; check its specific information.

How should you respond to a mild side effect?

Note when it began, how severe it is, and whether it changes. Check the medicine’s instructions and ask a pharmacist or clinician how to manage it; do not change the dose on your own.

When should you promptly contact a clinician about a symptom?

Contact a clinician promptly about a new, severe, worsening, or persistent symptom, or a warning sign listed in the medicine’s instructions.

Which medication reaction signs call for 911?

Call 911 for possible emergencies such as difficulty breathing, sudden swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat, fainting, seizure, severe confusion, or inability to wake.

What health information should you share before starting a medicine?

Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about allergies, medical conditions, pregnancy, and breastfeeding.

Which medicines and supplements should you disclose?

Share all medicines and supplements, including over-the-counter products and remedies used only occasionally.

What can interact with a medicine or affect its risks?

Reactions may arise from interactions between medicines, foods, supplements, or an existing health condition.

What should you ask about when discussing medication precautions?

Ask what to avoid, whether monitoring or tests are needed, and which symptoms require a call or emergency care.

Why keep a medicine’s patient information accessible?

Keep it accessible because it may list common and serious effects, precautions, and steps to take if a reaction occurs.

Does another person’s experience prove your side effect is harmless?

People can respond differently, so another person’s lack of a side effect does not mean yours is harmless.