DRUG ALLERGIES

PREPARED BY:
Deibb Lyne Gaffud
Nursing Education and Training
WHAT IS DRUG ALLERGIES?

is the abnormal reaction of

your immune system to a
medication
 A drug allergy is also distinct
from drug toxicity caused by
an overdose of medication.
 SIDE EFFECT VS ADVERSE EFFECT
 A side effect is a secondary unwanted effect that occurs due
to drug therapy.
 Do not hinder the main effect of the drug

 Are mild and self resolving when compared to adverse

effects.
 Adverse effect is unintended pharmacologic effects that
occur when a medication is administered correctly.
 More severe and life-threatening

 Drug Allergy
CLASSIFICCATION OF ADVERSE DRUG
REACTION- TYPE OF REACTION
 AUMENTED- It is dose dependent.
 BIZARRE- cannot be predicted from the pharmacology
of the drug
 CHRONIC- associated with long term drug therapy

 DELAYED- carcinogenic or teratogenic effects

 END OF USE- occur on withdrawal especially when

drug is stopped abruptly.
CLASSIFICATION OF ADR-DEPENDING
ON SEVERITY

MINOR ADRS
MODERATE ADRS
SEVERE ADRS
LETHAL
WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTOR?

history of other allergies, such as

food allergy.
Allergic reaction to another drug
A family history of drug allergy
Increased exposure to a drug
 SYMPTOMS
 SKIN RASH
 HIVES
 ITCHINESS
 MOUTH ULCER
 SHORTNESS OF BREATHING
 RUNNY NOSE
 ITCHY AND WATERY EYES
Anaphylaxis
-is a rare, life-threatening reaction to a drug
allergy that causes the widespread
dysfunction of body systems
-a severe, whole-body allergic reaction to a
chemical
- is an acute systemic (whole body) type of
allergic reaction which occurs when a
person has become sensitized to a certain
substance.
WHAT ARE THE USUAL INTERVENTION
THAT MAY USE TO TREAT ALLERGIC
REACTION?
Withdrawal of the drug
Antihistamines
Corticosteroids
Treatment of Anaphylaxis
ADVERSE DRUG REACTION
MONITORING POLICY
 To provide guideline for the process of observing,
identifying , detecting, reporting, documenting and
rectifying ADR
 To evaluate the adverse drug reaction and initiating
appropriate corrective measures.
 The goal of the ADR reporting program are:

 To encourage surveillance for ADR’s

 To provide a mechanism for monitoring the safety of

drug use.
 To stimulate education of health professionals regarding
ADR’s.
ADR Probability Scale (Naranjo
Score)- a series of questions
designed by Naranjo et al. That
are answered in order to help in
determining whether the
suspected drug was the cause of
the adverse drug reaction.
 Any member of health care staff who observe the
Adverse Drug Reaction should immediately contact the
attending physician / head nurse to report the possibility
of an adverse drug reaction.
 The nurse will stop/ discontinue the medication if
needed, stabilize the patient, then enter ADR information
in the Patients Medical record File in Nurses Progress
Note.
 The physician should examine the patient, order
necessary intervention if needed and document the ADR
in Patients Medical Record File in Doctors progress Note
then together with the observer, should document in
Adverse Drug Reaction Format and Naranjo Algorithm)
giving all the necessary information.
 Adverse Drug Reaction Format (Adverse Drug Reaction
Report and Naranjo Algorithm) should be forwarded to
the main pharmacy
 The Pharmaceutical Care Department Staff who receives
the ADR format should inform the supervisor and
forward the original formats to the Pharmaceutical Care
Department Total Quality Management Coordinator.
 The Pharmaceutical Care Department Total Quality
Management Coordinator should:
 Keep all the ADR formats in one file.

 Present the ADR to the Pharmaceutical Care Department

Manager who will evaluate the report together with the
supervisor, Pharmaceutical Care Department Total
Quality Management Coordinator, Pharmacy and
Therapeutic Committee Coordinator.
 Forward copy of the ADR formats to the following concerns:
 Risk Manager who is responsible to check, complete the
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality format (AHRQ
format ) and send to MOH.
 Send copy of ADR report to Saudi Food and Drug Authority
(SFDA) .
 The Pharmaceutical Care Department Manager will present the
ADR to the Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee at next
scheduled meeting.
 Pharmacy and Therapeutic Committee carries out evaluation of
ADR to determine the causal relationship between ADR and the
introduction of drug by viewing the medications which the
patient is receiving and by investigating the potential drug
interactions.
 After evaluation, and if approved that it is ADR , The Pharmacy
and Therapeutic Committee will send report to the Admission
Office to enter alert note on the system .