Which term describes an undesirable or harmful response to a medication?

• A. Prognosis
• B. Adverse reaction
• C. Prescription
• D. Analgesia

Answer: (B)

An adverse drug reaction refers to any harmful or undesired effect that occurs when taking a medication at usual doses. It covers a range from mild to life-threatening and is specifically about harm caused by the drug, not just its intended action. This is why it’s the best fit for describing an undesirable or harmful response to a medication.

Prognosis is about predicting how a disease will progress. A prescription is the order given to dispense medicine. Analgesia means pain relief. These concepts relate to outcomes, prescribing, or the drug’s intended effect, not the harmful response the question asks about.