What term refers to negative effects experienced from medication use?

• A. Prescribing Practices
• B. Adverse Reactions
• C. Medical Oversight
• D. Prehospital Care

Answer: (B)

Negative effects experienced from medication use are called adverse drug reactions. This term covers any unwanted, harmful response to a drug given at normal doses, not due to the underlying illness. ADRs can range from mild effects like drowsiness or upset stomach to severe, life‑threatening problems such as anaphylaxis or significant hypotension. They can be predictable and dose‑dependent or unpredictable and idiosyncratic. In the prehospital setting, recognizing ADRs quickly matters because they may resemble the patient’s presenting condition or complicate care, requiring stopping the offending drug and providing supportive treatment or specific antidotes if available. The other terms refer to processes or settings (how meds are prescribed, supervised, or the care environment) rather than the adverse effect itself.