What is an adverse drug reaction (ADR) and what are some common ones we may see while treating patients?
Answer
An ADR is an unwanted or potentially harmful effect caused by a drug when the drug is given at the recommended dosage. Someone could get GI upset, stomach pains, cramps, gas, diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, or nausea. Other symptoms would be dizziness or falls. Sometimes patients who are taking medications for blood pressure may say that every time they get up, they feel lightheaded or funny when getting up. That increases their risk of falls and a fall would be an adverse drug reaction. Some medications have effects of sedation. At their normal dosage, the patient becomes tired and lethargic. Sometimes medications cause confusion, depression or fatigue and weakness. These are the common ADRs that you will see with your patients. If you are treating a patient and they tell you they have been really tired over the last two days, to me, that would be a trigger to ask if they have changed any medication or added any medication. There is a good chance something has changed in their medication regime that would help me say there is a problem there. Maybe they added Benadryl to your medication regime and Benadryl can cause them to be sedated. They could have taken it at night to help them sleep, but maybe it still is having an effect towards 11 AM the next day when you are seeing them for therapy in the home.
Kenneth L. Miller, PT, DPT, GCS, CEEAA
Dr. Ken Miller, PT, DPT, is a board-certified geriatric clinical specialist and advanced credentialed exercise expert for aging adults. Dr. Miller is an assistant professor at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Division of Physical Therapy and serves as the founding director of the USC Geriatric Residency Program. His clinical focus is on best practices for use with the older adult population. Dr. Miller is the Director overseeing Practice for the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy. He has spoken nationally and internationally on topics of gerontology, including pharmacology, primary prevention, frailty, outcome measures, best practices, and pain management for the older adult. Dr. Miller has over 20 years of clinical expertise in risk mitigation and error prevention and is currently researching well-being, mental health, and burnout in physical therapists.
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