What are adverse drug reactions?
Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) depend on the type of drug or combination of drugs being taken. They have many causes and are often not well understood. Many ADRs occur because individual differences in drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and other parts of the processing systems have not been taken into account when the drug was approved or prescribed. Three-fourths of all ADRs are dose-dependent, with many occurring at standard manufacturer-recommended doses. A 1998 medical report found adverse drug reactions to be the fourth leading cause of death in the U.S., at more than 100,000 annually.
