CHAPTER 3: Toxic Effects of Drugs Types of Drug Allergies

• Anaphylactic Reaction
• Cytotoxic Reaction
Adverse Drug Reaction • Serum Sickness Reaction
 Undesired effects that may be unpleasant or even • Delayed Allergic Reaction
dangerous
 Reasons Adverse Drug Reactions Occur
 The drug may have other effects on the body
besides the therapeutic effect.
 The patient is sensitive to the drug being given.
 The drug’s action on the body causes other
responses that are undesired or unpleasant.
 The patient is taking too much or too little of the
drug.
Types of Adverse Reactions
 Primary Actions
○ Overdose; extension of the desired effect
 Secondary Actions
○ Undesired effects produced in addition to
the pharmacologic effect
 Hypersensitivity Reactions
○ Excessive response to primary or
secondary effect of drug

Dermatologic Reactions
Rash/Hives
Assessment
Abnormalities in the skin, red area,
blisters
Interventions
May need to discontinue the
medication in severe cases
Stomatitis
Assessment Drug-Induced Tissue and Organ Damage
Inflammation of the mucous Superinfections
membranes ▪ Destruction of the body’s normal flora
Organ Damage Dermatological Reactions ▪ Superinfections is when normal flora are
Adverse reactions involving the skin. drugs destroyed by drugs (antibiotics)
deposit toxic chemical reaction causing irritation Assessment
to the tissue ▪ Fever, diarrhea, vaginal discharge
Can range from simple rash to potential fatal Interventions
exfoliate dermatitis. ▪ Supportive care (mouth and skin care),
administer antifungal medications as
Nursing Care: needed, may also need to stop drug
• In severe cases, D/C drug and notify AP responsible for the superinfection
• Topical corticosteroids, antihistamines and
Blood Dyscrasia Teratogenicity
emollients are used. Teratogenicity: Any drug that causes harm
▪ Bone marrow suppression
Stomatitis ▪ any abnormal condition of the blood. to the developing fetus or embryo
• Direct toxic reaction to the dug deposits in ▪ Is bone marrow suppression. • Teaching to prevent teratogenicity
the end capillaries in the mucous ▪ Use of antineoplastics and antibiotics • Advise the pregnant woman that
any medication may have possible
membranes, leading to inflammation. ▪ Bone marrow cells multiply rapidly.
effects on the baby.
Nursing care: ▪ Multiple Cell division, highly susceptible
• Weigh the actual benefits against
• Frequent small meals to any agents that disrupts cell
the potential risks.
Dental consultation function. • Discuss with pregnant women that
• Antifungal agents and/or local anesthetics Assessment they should not take medications
are sometimes used. ▪ Fever, chills, weakness without checking with their health
Interventions care provider first.
▪ Monitor blood counts, protective All pregnant women should be advised
isolation not to self-medicate during pregnancy.

INTERVENTION:
• Provide emotional and physical
support for dealing with fetal death
or birth defects.

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