What are the most common drugs causing ADR?

Asked by: Lafayette Crooks I  |  Last update: October 3, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (65 votes)

Medicines that have been particularly implicated in ADR-related hospital admissions include antiplatelets, anticoagulants, cytotoxics, immunosuppressants, diuretics, antidiabetics and antibiotics.

What is the most common cause of an adverse drug reaction?

Polypharmacy. Taking several drugs, whether prescription or over-the-counter, contributes to the risk of having an ADR. The number and severity of ADRs increases disproportionately as the number of drugs taken increases.

What is the most common drug-induced reaction?

The most common cutaneous manifestation of drug-induced allergic reactions is a generalized exanthem (also known as maculopapular eruption), which can be caused by hundreds of medications, with some of the more common culprits being aminopenicillins, cephalosporins, sulfonamide antibiotics, antiepileptics, and ...

What are the most common adverse reactions to medication?

Any drug has the potential to cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms of adverse drug reactions include cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches. Skin reactions (i.e. rashes, itching) are the most common form of allergic drug reaction.

Which drugs are most likely to cause adverse drug reactions?

Medicines that have been particularly implicated in ADR-related hospital admissions include antiplatelets, anticoagulants, cytotoxics, immunosuppressants, diuretics, antidiabetics and antibiotics.

What are the types of ADRs? | Adverse Drug Reactions | Pharmacology Animation

33 related questions found

What drugs are considered high risk?

High risk medications
  • A – Antimicrobials.
  • P – Potassium and other electrolytes, psychotropic medications.
  • I – Insulin.
  • N – Narcotics, opioids and sedatives.
  • C – Chemotherapeutic agents.
  • H – Heparin and other anticoagulants.
  • S – Safer systems (e.g. safe administration of liquid medications using oral syringes)

What is the most common ADR?

Digestive disturbances—loss of appetite, nausea, a bloating sensation, constipation, and diarrhea—are particularly common adverse drug reactions, because most drugs and medications are taken by mouth and pass through the digestive tract. However, almost any organ system can be affected.

Which three organs are most affected by ADRs?

organ systems most commonly involved in ADRs were gastrointestinal (47.5%), followed by liver (29.6%) and skin (14.1%) (Figure 1).

How quickly do side effects happen?

Symptoms of a serious drug allergy often happen within an hour after taking a medicine. Other reactions, particularly rashes, can happen hours, days or weeks later. Drug allergy symptoms may include: Skin rash.

Why do doctors ignore side effects?

There are various reasons that drug side effects might go unrecognized: the shrinking time physicians have to spend with patients; the fact that doctors receive lots of information about the benefits of drugs but not much on their dangers; and cognitive dissonance or denial about the negative effects that drugs can ...

What is a famous adverse drug reaction?

The 10 most common adverse drug reactions are diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, alopecia, drowsiness, myelosuppression, skin reactions, anorexia, and mucositis.

What does gabapentin rash look like?

The rash may be red or purple and then turn into blisters or peeling of the skin. Or, you might notice a red rash with swelling of the face, lips or lymph nodes in your neck or under your arms. Wear a medical identification bracelet or chain if you are taking this medication for seizures.

What are the most commonly reported adverse drug reactions?

Examples of such adverse drug reactions include rashes, jaundice, anemia, a decrease in the white blood cell count, kidney damage, and nerve injury that may impair vision or hearing. These reactions tend to be more serious but typically occur in a very small number of people.

What is the most common cause of adverse drug reactions in older adults?

Increased Sensitivity to Many Drugs: The problems of decreased body size, altered body composition (more fat, less water), and decreased liver and kidney function cause many drugs to accumulate in older people's bodies at dangerously higher levels and for longer times than in younger people.

Which group is at highest risk for adverse drug events?

Risk Factors for Adverse Drug Events

Polypharmacy—taking more medications than clinically necessary—is likely the strongest risk factor for ADEs. Older adults, who take more medications and are more vulnerable to specific medication adverse effects than younger patients, are particularly vulnerable to ADEs.

What drugs cause ADR?

Antibiotics (64.3%), anticancer drugs (9.4%), and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) medications (7.3%) were most commonly associated with ADRs. The commonly involved system organs were the skin (69.9%), the nervous system (24.1%), the GIT (19.5%), and the respiratory system (15.6%). 8.0% of ADRs were serious.

What is a serious adverse drug reaction?

An adverse reaction that results in death, is life-threatening, requires hospitalisation or prolongation of existing hospitalisation, results in persistent or significant disability or incapacity, or is a birth defect.

What is the most common type of drug reaction?

The most common type of drug reaction is hives, also known as urticaria. They are raised, swollen, red or flesh-colored bumps or welts that appear on the skin. They can take on many shapes and can be very itchy. They usually develop in groups and may cover large areas of skin.

What is the most commonly used ADR?

Mediation is presently the most popular form of ADR in use by agencies in employment-related disputes. Mediation is the intervention in a dispute or negotiation of an acceptable impartial and neutral third party, who has no decision-making authority.

What is an example of a high risk medication for ADRs?

Parenteral scopolamine and oral methyldopa are the drugs more often involved in ADRs. However, parenteral drugs such as scopolamine, ceftriaxone and insulin have a greater risk for the development of ADR.

What are the top 10 ADRs?

Sector*
  • Novo Nordisk AS B ADR. NVO. Health Care.
  • SAP SE ADR. SAP. Technology.
  • Toyota Motor Corp ADR. TM. Consumer Goods.
  • AstraZeneca Plc ADR. AZN. Health Care.
  • Shell plc ADR. SHEL. Oil & Gas.
  • Novartis AG. NVS. Health Care.
  • HSBC Holdings Plc ADR. HSBC. Financials.
  • Alibaba Group Holding Ltd ADR. BABA. Consumer Services.

What are the top 5 high alert medications?

In comparison, the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has identified insulin, opiates and narcotics, injectable potassium chloride (or) phosphate concentrate, intravenous anticoagulants (heparin), and sodium chloride solutions above 0.9% as the top five (5) high alert medications.

What is the highest abuse potential drug?

In conclusion, cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin are among the drugs with the highest potential for abuse. They are all highly addictive substances that can have devastating effects on an individual's health and well-being.

What is the most serious drug offense?

Drug Trafficking is the most serious drug offense. It is Delivery of a Controlled Substance (or Possession with the Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance) plus a minimum weight requirement for the drugs.