PSA Adverse Drug Reactions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the difference between a side effect and an adverse drug reaction?
- Side effects are expected secondary effects; adverse reactions are harmful unintended effects (Correct answer)
- They are identical
- Side effects are always serious
- Adverse reactions are always mild
Correct answer: Side effects are expected secondary effects; adverse reactions are harmful unintended effects
Side effects are known, predictable secondary effects (like drowsiness from antihistamines), while adverse drug reactions are harmful, unintended responses that may require treatment modification.
Question 2: What is a Type A adverse drug reaction?
- A dose-dependent, predictable reaction related to the drug's known pharmacological action (Correct answer)
- An unpredictable allergic reaction
- A reaction that occurs years after treatment
- A reaction unrelated to the drug
Correct answer: A dose-dependent, predictable reaction related to the drug's known pharmacological action
Type A (augmented) reactions are extensions of the drug's pharmacological effect, predictable, dose-dependent, and account for about 80% of adverse reactions.
Question 3: What is anaphylaxis and how should it be treated?
- A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction treated with intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine) (Correct answer)
- A mild rash treated with antihistamines
- A stomach upset from medication
- A headache from drug interaction
Correct answer: A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction treated with intramuscular adrenaline (epinephrine)
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency involving airway swelling, hypotension, and potentially death. Intramuscular adrenaline is the first-line treatment.
Question 4: What drugs commonly cause QT prolongation?
- Certain antibiotics (erythromycin, fluoroquinolones), antipsychotics, and antiarrhythmics (Correct answer)
- Only heart medications
- Only antibiotics
- No drugs cause QT prolongation
Correct answer: Certain antibiotics (erythromycin, fluoroquinolones), antipsychotics, and antiarrhythmics
Many drug classes can prolong the QT interval, including macrolide antibiotics, fluoroquinolones, antipsychotics, methadone, and some antiemetics, risking torsades de pointes.
Question 5: What is the Yellow Card Scheme?
- The UK system for reporting suspected adverse drug reactions to the MHRA (Correct answer)
- A reward system for pharmacists
- A hospital identification system
- A prescription validity checker
Correct answer: The UK system for reporting suspected adverse drug reactions to the MHRA
The Yellow Card Scheme allows healthcare professionals and patients to report suspected adverse drug reactions to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.
Question 6: What does 'first-dose hypotension' mean?
- A significant drop in blood pressure occurring with the initial dose of certain medications like ACE inhibitors (Correct answer)
- Hypotension that only occurs once
- Low blood pressure at birth
- Blood pressure changes from standing up
Correct answer: A significant drop in blood pressure occurring with the initial dose of certain medications like ACE inhibitors
First-dose hypotension is particularly associated with ACE inhibitors, alpha-blockers, and some antihypertensives, especially in volume-depleted or elderly patients.
PSA Adverse Drug Reactions 1
What is the difference between a side effect and an adverse drug reaction?