Adverse reactions: Suggested questions
They may not apply to every situation you come across, but there are some questions you should be thinking about in practice.
The Medicine
- Identify all current and recent medication (including OTC products, complementary medicines and potential substance misuse).
- Establish when the suspected reaction began.
- Which medicines were started before the ADR began, and how long have they been taken for?
- Is there anything that raises a suspicion that one medicine is responsible for the ADR? Has the suspect drug been stopped, and has the ADR improved as a result?
The Patient
- Ask for details of the suspected reaction including signs, symptoms, and severity.
- Consider any history of ADRs and/or allergies.
- Ask about biochemistry (e.g. renal function, liver function) and patient age if relevant.
- Ask how the patient has been managed so far, and how he/she is now.
Going Forward
- How is it planned to manage the ADR?
- Is there a different medicine that might be suitable for the patient's condition?