Adverse effect (medicine)

Adverse effect, in medicine, is an abnormal, harmful, undesired and/or unintended side-effect, although not necessarily unexpected, which is obtained as the result of a therapy or other medical intervention, such as drug/chemotherapy, physical therapy, surgery, medical procedure, use of a medical device, etc. Iatrogenesis (literally, generated by a physician) is a common cause of adverse effects. Using a drug or other medical intervention which is contraindicated may increase the risk of adverse effects. Adverse effects may cause medical complications of a disease or procedure and affect negatively its prognosis.

Related Topics:
Medicine - Side-effect - Therapy - Drug - Chemotherapy - Physical therapy - Surgery - Medical device - Iatrogenesis - Contraindicated - Risk - Medical complications - Prognosis

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The harmful outcome is usually indicated by some result such as morbidity, mortality, alteration in body weight, levels of enzymes, loss of function or as a pathological change detected at the microscopic, macroscopic or physiological level. They may cause a reversible or irreversible change, including an increase or decrease in the susceptibility of the individual to other chemicals, foods, or procedures (e.g. drug interaction).

Related Topics:
Morbidity - Mortality - Body weight - Enzyme - Pathological - Food - Drug interaction

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