What Is an Adverse Reaction?

An adverse effect is an undesired harmful effect resulting from a medication or other intervention, such as surgery. An adverse effect may be termed a "side effect", when judged to be secondary to a main or therapeutic effect.

What is meant by an adverse reaction?

An adverse reaction is an unexpected negative reaction to a medication or treatment that is used in an approved manner. While sometimes used interchangeably with side effects, the term side effect often refers to effects that are minor or confer less harm.

What is an example of an adverse reaction?

Examples of such adverse drug reactions include rashes, jaundice, anemia, a decrease in the white blood cell count, kidney damage, and nerve injury that may impair vision or hearing. These reactions tend to be more serious but typically occur in a very small number of people.

Robert Thorne

Robert Thorne

Automotive & Future Transportation Editor

Robert Thorne covers electric vehicle innovations, autonomous driving systems, global mobility trends, and automotive engineering developments.