Which term describes an intended use or reason for giving a medication?

• A. Contraindications
• B. Adverse Effect
• C. Indication
• D. Hypersensitivity

Answer: (C)

Indication describes the intended use or reason for giving a medication. It’s the condition or symptom the drug is meant to treat, guiding clinicians on when to administer it. For example, an analgesic may be indicated for pain relief, while in prehospital care a drug like aspirin can be indicated for suspected acute coronary syndrome to help prevent clot progression.

This differs from contraindications, which are circumstances that caution against use because the risk would outweigh the benefit (such as a known severe allergy or a situation where the drug could cause serious harm). An adverse effect is a potential unwanted reaction that can occur after a drug is given, even when used as indicated. Hypersensitivity refers to an allergic-type reaction to a medication, which is a specific form of contraindication.