Adverse Drug Reaction Management Flashcards

A 72-year-old patient, who was started on allopurinol 100mg daily two weeks ago for gout, presents to the pharmacy complaining of a new, non-itchy rash on his torso. What is the most appropriate initial action for the pharmacist to take?

Answer: Advise the patient to immediately stop taking the allopurinol and to see their GP for an urgent assessment.

Allopurinol is associated with a risk of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), such as Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) or Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS), which can be life-threatening. Any rash, even if initially mild, that develops within the first few months of starting allopurinol should be treated as potentially serious. The safest and most critical action is to advise the patient to cease the medication immediately and seek urgent medical review to rule out a severe reaction.

A patient experiences a sudden, severe, and life-threatening anaphylactic reaction immediately after receiving a dose of penicillin. According to the classification of adverse drug reactions, how is this event best categorised?

Answer: A Type B (Bizarre) reaction

This is a classic example of a Type B (Bizarre) reaction. Type B reactions are not predictable from the drug's known pharmacology, are not dose-dependent, and often involve an immunological mechanism like an allergic response. Anaphylaxis fits this description perfectly. In contrast, Type A (Augmented) reactions are predictable, dose-dependent extensions of the drug's pharmacological effects.

Which of the following is the primary purpose of pharmacists and other health professionals reporting suspected adverse drug reactions to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) in Australia?

Answer: To contribute to national post-market surveillance and the identification of new drug safety signals.

The primary purpose of the TGA's adverse event reporting system is pharmacovigilance. This involves collecting and analysing reports to monitor the safety of medicines and vaccines after they are on the market. This process helps identify previously unknown risks (signal detection), understand risk factors, and implement regulatory action, such as updating product information or issuing safety alerts, to protect public health.

The Naranjo algorithm is a validated tool used by clinicians and researchers in the management of adverse drug reactions. What is its primary function?

Answer: To assess the causality and probability that an adverse event is related to a specific drug.

The Naranjo algorithm, also known as the Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale, is a systematic tool designed to establish a causal relationship between a drug and an adverse event. It uses a scoring system based on a series of questions about the event's timing, nature, and response to de-challenge and re-challenge, to classify the probability as definite, probable, possible, or doubtful.

A 68-year-old patient who was started on lisinopril four weeks ago for hypertension complains of a persistent, non-productive, dry cough that often wakes him at night. He has no other symptoms of a respiratory infection. What is the most likely cause of this cough?

Answer: A predictable, class-specific effect of the ACE inhibitor.

A dry, persistent cough is a well-known and common adverse effect of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors like lisinopril, occurring in up to 35% of patients. It is a Type A (Augmented) reaction related to the drug's mechanism of action, which involves the accumulation of bradykinin and substance P in the respiratory tract. The timing of onset and nature of the cough are characteristic of an ACE inhibitor-induced cough.

Which of the following statements best describes the comprehensive role of a community pharmacist in managing a patient-reported adverse drug reaction (ADR)?

Answer: To assess the reaction, provide appropriate initial advice, document the event in the patient's record, and report it to the TGA when warranted.

The pharmacist's role in ADR management is multifaceted. It involves clinical assessment of the reaction's severity and likely cause, providing patient-centred advice (which may include referral to a doctor), thorough documentation for continuity of care, and fulfilling a public health duty by reporting significant, serious, or unusual reactions to the TGA. The other options describe only single components of this comprehensive process.