contraindicated

Contraindicated is a term used in medicine and pharmacy to describe a condition or factor that makes a particular treatment or procedure inadvisable because it carries a risk of harm to the patient. A contraindication can be absolute, meaning the intervention should not be used under any circumstances, or relative/conditional, meaning it may be used only with caution or when the potential benefits outweigh the risks.

Common examples include: absolute contraindications such as a severe allergy to the drug, or pregnancy for certain teratogenic medications; relative contraindications such as NSAIDs in patients with active peptic ulcer disease, or anticoagulants in those with active bleeding or high bleeding risk; and renal impairment with certain contrast agents used in imaging.

Contraindications are identified through patient history, examination, and guideline-based assessments, as well as consideration of interactions with other medications, allergies, organ dysfunction, and genetic factors. They may be time-dependent or condition-dependent.

In practice, clinicians perform risk–benefit analyses to decide whether to withhold a therapy, choose an alternative, modify the regimen, or proceed with enhanced monitoring. Documentation of contraindications is standard, and patients should be informed about why a treatment is not advised and what alternatives exist.

Note that contraindications are not universal absolutes; they may vary by guideline, context, and new evidence. A condition that is contraindicating in one setting may be acceptable in another with specific precautions.