Toxic Effects of Drugs

Side effect

Unwanted but anticipated, usually not dangerous

Adverse effect

Unintended response, can be dangerous

What are the two types of adverse effects

• type A (primary actions)

• Type B (secondary actions)

Type A adverse effect

An overextension of desired affect

Overdosed/dose dependent reaction

• type A adverse effect

• Patient becomes overtly sedated and somnolent when receiving a dose of morphine for pain control

Drug-drug interactions/non-dose dependent reactions

• type A adverse effect

• Patient becomes hyper-anticoagulated from coumadin when prescribed bactrim for a UTI

Type B adverse affect

Undesired effects produced in addition to pharmacologic effect, happens at therapeutic dosing

Hypersensitivity reactions

• type B adverse effect

• Body forms antibodies to a drug causing an immune response

Idiosyncratic reactions

• type b adverse effect

• Not mediated by immunological or inflammatory mechanisms

Dermatological reactions

• idiosyncratic

• Rashes, hives, stomatitis

GI irritation

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal bleeding

Superinfections

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Destruction of body’s normal flora

Blood dyscrasia

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Bone marrow suppression

Hepatotoxicity

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Impairs metabolism of drugs

Nephrotoxicity

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Impairs excretion of drugs

Hypo/hyperglycemia

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Glucose

Hypo/hyperkalemia

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Potassium

Neurological symptoms

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Auditory and ocular effects

• CNS effects

• Anticholinergic efects

• Extrapyrimidal symptoms

• Neuroleptic malignant syndrome

Tetratogenicity

• idiosyncratic reaction

• Any drug that causes harm to developing fetus or embryo