US Medical Term · medications
Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR)
Reacción adversa a medicamentos
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) |
| Spanish (Español) | Reacción adversa a medicamentos |
| Chinese (中文) | 藥物不良反應 |
| Korean (한국어) | 약물 이상 반응 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Phản ứng có hại của thuốc |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Masamang reaksyon sa gamot |
| Portuguese (Português) | Reação adversa a medicamento |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อาการไม่พึงประสงค์จากยา |
| Japanese (日本語) | 薬物有害反応 |
What it means
An adverse drug reaction, or ADR, is any unwanted, harmful, or unexpected response to a medication taken at a normal therapeutic dose. ADRs differ from drug allergies in that most do not involve the immune system and can include side effects, toxic reactions from drug accumulation, or unexpected interactions between medications. Common examples include nausea from antibiotics, dizziness from blood pressure drugs, and muscle pain from cholesterol-lowering statins. Report ADRs to your doctor or pharmacist so the medication can be adjusted, substituted, or discontinued. Serious ADRs can also be reported directly to the FDA through the MedWatch safety reporting program.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I think I am having an adverse drug reaction to my new medication. Who should I call?
Creo que estoy teniendo una reacción adversa a mi nuevo medicamento. ¿A quién debo llamar?
My pharmacist said this side effect could be an adverse drug reaction and I should tell my doctor.
Mi farmacéutico dijo que este efecto secundario podría ser una reacción adversa y que debo avisarle a mi médico.
Can I report an adverse drug reaction to the FDA directly?
¿Puedo reportar una reacción adversa a la FDA directamente?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026