8 Medication Effects, Monitoring, and Patient Education Free Online FlashCards

What is an adverse drug event (ADE)?

An adverse drug event is harm associated with medication use, whether from a harmful reaction during appropriate use or a preventable medication error.

What defines an adverse drug reaction (ADR)?

An adverse drug reaction is an unwanted, harmful response to a medicine used appropriately.

What is a medication interaction?

An interaction occurs when a medicine’s effect changes because of another medicine, food, beverage, supplement, or health condition.

Which signs may indicate a serious medication allergy?

Hives, facial or throat swelling, wheezing, and difficulty breathing can signal an allergy and require urgent attention.

What should medication monitoring assess?

Establish relevant baseline findings, then monitor both the intended benefit and known risks. Compare new findings with the patient’s baseline and the medicine’s expected effects.

When should medication monitoring be reassessed?

Reassess after a dose or route change, when a new medicine is added, or when an interaction is suspected.

What bleeding signs matter during anticoagulant treatment?

Assess for bleeding and use tests appropriate to the specific anticoagulant. Report new bruising, blood in urine or stool, or unusual bleeding promptly.

What makes a medication high-alert?

High-alert medications carry a heightened risk of serious harm when used in error. The designation concerns the severity of possible consequences, not how often errors occur.

Name examples of high-alert medications.

Examples include insulin, anticoagulants, opioids, chemotherapy, neuromuscular blockers, and concentrated electrolytes such as potassium chloride injection.

What safeguards can reduce high-alert medication errors?

Safeguards may include standardized concentrations and storage, clear labeling, and dose-range checks. An independent double check may be required by policy, but it does not replace careful verification.

What regimen details should medication teaching cover?

Explain the medicine’s purpose, exact dose, route, schedule, and duration. Include what to do about a missed dose and which doses must not be doubled.

What medication list should patients maintain and share?

Encourage patients to keep an up-to-date list of all medicines, vitamins, and supplements and share it with each care professional.