Which term refers to the assessment of adverse reactions to medications?

• A. Safety
• B. Potency
• C. Efficacy
• D. Toxicity

Answer: (A)

Evaluating how well a medication is tolerated and what risks it carries is safety in pharmacology. Safety covers monitoring for adverse reactions, tolerability, and the overall risk-benefit balance of using the drug in the intended population. It’s the broad category that includes how often side effects occur, how serious they are, and whether they limit use of the medication.

Potency is about the amount of drug needed to produce an effect, and efficacy is about the maximum therapeutic effect achievable. Toxicity refers to harmful effects that occur at certain doses or exposures. While toxicity describes the potential for harm, the overall assessment of adverse reactions and how safely a drug can be used is best described by safety.