title: Adverse drug reactions: classification, susceptibility and reporting.
abstract: Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are increasingly common and are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Historically, ADRs have been classified as type A or type B. Type A reactions are predictable from the known pharmacology of a drug and are associated with high morbidity and low mortality. Type B reactions are idiosyncratic, bizarre or novel responses that cannot be predicted from the known pharmacology of a drug and are associated with low morbidity and high mortality. Not all ADRs fit into type A and type B categories; therefore, additional categories have been developed. These include type C (continuing), type D (delayed use), and type E (end of use) reactions. Susceptibility to ADRs is influenced by age, gender, disease states, pregnancy, ethnicity and polypharmacy. Drug safety is reliant on nurses and other healthcare professionals being alert to the possibility of ADRs, working with patients to optimise medicine use and exercising vigilance in the reporting of ADRs through the Yellow Card Scheme.
authors: Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, England.
authors: Gerri
authors: G
authors: Kaufman
mesh_terms: D016907:Adverse Drug Reaction Reporting Systems; D000367:Age Factors; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety; D019338:Polypharmacy; D012308:Risk Management; D012737:Sex Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Yellow Card Scheme; adverse drug reactions; drug interactions; medicines management; patient safety; polypharmacy; risk management; therapeutic index