Contraindications are best described as which of the following?

Contraindications are best described as which of the following?

• A. Potential interactions between drugs
• B. Existing conditions that the resident may have which are incompatible with the drug (Inderal given to asthmatic res.)
• C. Adverse effects that occur during treatment
• D. Dosing guidelines and dosage adjustments

Answer: (B)

Contraindications refer to conditions or factors that make a drug unsafe to use in a particular patient. The correct description is existing conditions that a resident may have which are incompatible with the drug, such as giving a beta-blocker to an asthmatic resident, which can worsen breathing and thus should be avoided. Drug interactions describe potential interactions with other medications, but that safety concern is not the definition of a contraindication by itself. Adverse effects are unwanted outcomes that can occur during treatment, not reasons to withhold a drug entirely. Dosing guidelines and dosage adjustments explain how to use the drug, not whether it should be avoided due to a patient’s condition. So the idea that existing conditions incompatible with the drug best captures what contraindications are.

Contraindications refer to conditions or factors that make a drug unsafe to use in a particular patient. The correct description is existing conditions that a resident may have which are incompatible with the drug, such as giving a beta-blocker to an asthmatic resident, which can worsen breathing and thus should be avoided. Drug interactions describe potential interactions with other medications, but that safety concern is not the definition of a contraindication by itself. Adverse effects are unwanted outcomes that can occur during treatment, not reasons to withhold a drug entirely. Dosing guidelines and dosage adjustments explain how to use the drug, not whether it should be avoided due to a patient’s condition. So the idea that existing conditions incompatible with the drug best captures what contraindications are.