Ades

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are injuries or harm resulting from the use of medications. The term ADE covers adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which are harmful or unintended responses that occur at normal doses, as well as harm caused by medication errors such as incorrect dosing, wrong drug, or unsafe administration. ADEs can arise at any point in the medication use process, including prescribing, dispensing, administration, and monitoring, and may also involve drug interactions or allergies leading to toxicity.

ADEs vary in severity from mild or transient effects to life-threatening conditions that require hospitalization, prolong illness, or cause death. They are a major concern in both hospital and community settings, with higher risk among older adults and people with multiple chronic conditions who use multiple medicines (polypharmacy). Hospitalized patients often face increased risk due to complex regimens, acute illness, and changes in organ function.

Common examples of ADEs include adverse effects from anticoagulants such as bleeding, hypoglycemia from insulin or oral hypoglycemics, liver injury from certain medications, nephrotoxicity from NSAIDs, and allergic or anaphylactoid reactions. ADEs can also result from medication errors, such as giving the wrong drug, the wrong dose, or administering drugs via the incorrect route.

Prevention and management focus on pharmacovigilance, safe prescribing practices, thorough medication reconciliation, dose optimization, and monitoring for potential interactions and adverse effects. Reporting systems, clinician decision-support tools, patient education, and safety practices like barcode scanning and careful transitions of care help reduce the incidence and impact of ADEs. Prompt identification and appropriate treatment are essential when ADEs occur.