18th March 2024

Important adverse drug reactions


ACE inhibitors	Blurred vision, dry cough, hyperkalaemia, headache, syncope
Acetylcysteine	Abdominal pain and diarrhoea, hypersensitivity reactions, stomatitis, tinnitus
Amiodarone	Arrhythmias, cutaneous reactions, hepatic dysfunction, CYP inhibition (potentiating the effects of colchicine/fluconazole/warfarin), hepatotoxicity, prolonged washout period, thyrotoxicosis
Azathioprine (particularly those with TPMT deficiency)	Agranulocytosis, alopecia, anaemia, bone marrow suppression, hypersensitivity reactions, increased susceptibility to infections, leucopaenia, pancreatitis, severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), thrombocytopaenia
Beta blockers	Gastrointestinal disturbance, headache, insomnia, nausea, syncope, worsening of psoriasis
Bisphosphonates	Osteonecrosis of the jaw, GI erosions, hypocalcaemia
Carbamazepine	Aplastic anaemia, cutaneous reactions, DRESS, dry mouth, gastrointestinal disturbance, headache, hyponatraemia, lecuopaenia, movement disorders, visual disturbance, weight gain
Corticosteroids	Acne, insomnia, pancreatitis, psychosis, skin striae, weight gain (fluid retention and increased appetite), hyperglycaemia
Heparin	Bruising, haemorrhage, (epistaxis, haemoptysis, menorrhagia, haematuria) HIT (heparin-induced thrombocytopaenia)
Hydroxycarbamide	Alopecia, anaemia, cutaneous vasculitis, dermatomyositis, mucositis, neutropaenia, pancreatitis, photosensitivity, thrombocytopaenia
Leflunomide	Abdominal pain, alopecia, leucopaenia, peripheral neuropathy, teratogenicity
Lithium	Alopecia, angioedema, arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, cardiomyopathy, cerebellar syndrome, electrolyte derangement, encephalopathy, goitre, hyperglycaemia, hyperparathyroidism, idiopathic intracranial hypertension, memory loss, movement disorders nephropathy, peripheral neuropathy, QT prolongation, teratogenicity, thyrotoxicity, tremor, visual disturbance
Methotrexate	Anaemia, co-prescription of folate inhibitors risks significant myelosuppression, cutaneous reactions, pulmonary toxicity
Natalizumab	Alopecia, anaemia, hypersensitivity, increased susceptibility to infections, leucopaenia, myocardial infarction, progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy
Platinum-based chemotherapy	Alopecia, anaemia, cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, leucopaenia, neutropenia, nephrotoxicity, ototoxicity, pulmonary fibrosis, thrombocytopenia
St John’s Wort	Dry mouth, gastrointestinal disturbance, nausea, serotonin syndrome
Thiazolidinediones	Fluid retention and congestive heart failure, hepatotoxicity, macular oedema, ovarian hyperstimulation and teratogenicity, transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder

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