by Tnpoet

Created on: July 07, 2008

What is an Adverse Drug Reaction?

According to the definition of an adverse drug reaction from the World Health Organization, I have had three in my lifetime. I feel for anyone who goes through an episode resulting from taking a medication they have never taken before. The definition is any noxious, unintended, and undesired effect of a drug, which occurs at doses used in humans for prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy.

The 1st adverse drug reaction I had when I was 14 years old. I had tonsillitis and was going away on a church retreat to a local college about 3 hours from home. As I had a severe case my doctor gave me a double dose of penicillin. Never having received penicillin before, I went on my trip. After about 2 days I began feeling "funny". I started vomiting and was having trouble breathing. I developed a rash on my skin starting with my arms. My sponsor decided it would be best if Mom and Dad came and got me for medical attention. The closer I got to home, the sicker I became. I started swelling around my face and the rash was spreading quickly throughout my entire body. By the time we reached the hospital, I was scared, hurting, and scratching everywhere. As soon as my doctor arrived (which they did back in the day), he immediately knew what it was and gave me an antidote. I started feeling better in a couple of hours and was soon back at home in my own bed.

At that moment in time an adverse drug reaction was only known as an "allergy" to medication. School began soon after my episode and I remember wearing long sleeves and pantyhose to cover the rash on my arms and legs. Back then we didn't have air conditioning in school and girls were required to wear dresses. I remember being so hot which just contributed to more scratching on my arms and legs. I was so embarrassed when everyone asked why I was scratching all day. I finally showed my closest friends what lay beneath my sleeves and they helped answer questions from other classmates explaining I was having an "allergic" reaction to medication.

The 2nd and 3rd adverse drug reactions I had I was in my 20's and I had been diagnosed with a "nervous" stomach. My doctor gave me a medication called phenobarbitol to relieve anxiety. I took it for 2 weeks and noticed a rash on my arms that began spreading. One of my coworkers had a rash about the same time so I was concerned I had "caught" something at work and went to my doctor yet once again. He determined I was having an "allergic" reaction to the phenobarbitol

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