Adverse events are unintended pharmacologic effects that occur when a medication is administered correctly while a side effect is a secondary unwanted effect that occurs due to drug therapy. It is a common misconception that adverse events and side effects are the same thing. In fact I have seen these 2 words used interchangeably although they have different meanings, which many healthcare professionals may not be aware of. Below I will discuss each in order to help healthcare professionals as well as patients differentiate between an adverse event and a side effect. Adverse Events An adverse event is an undesired occurrence that results from taking a medication correctly. The event can either be a type A reaction or a type B reaction. Type A reactions are predictable adverse events which are commonly dose dependent and can be mild, moderate, or severe. Type B reactions are completely unpredic...
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