Life-threatening adverse drug reactions

At a glance

• Most serious adverse drug reactions are predictable (type A): an extension of the drug's pharmacology, made worse by age, renal impairment, a dose change or an interacting drug.
• The curriculum lists six patterns. Each has a short list of usual culprits and a usual vulnerable patient.
• Response is the same every time: stop the drug, treat the effect (antidote if there is one), look for the precipitant, record the reaction and report it to the TGA.