Adverse Drug Events
An adverse drug reaction (ADR) is an unwanted or harmful reaction experienced following the administration of a drug or combination of drugs under normal conditions of use and is suspected to be related to the drug. An ADR will usually require the drug to be discontinued or the dose reduced.
Aging populations are often accompanied by comorbidity and polypharmacy, leading to increases in adverse drug reactions (ADRs). This means that residents that have multiple conditions or disease processes and are generally on multiple medications are at a much higher risk of having ADRs. For this reason it is important for the CMA to be vigilant for any changes in the resident when administering a change in medication or a change in a dosage of a medication.
